Burnisher or screwdriver?

[Graham Orm]

Do you have back to back evidence that a burnisher is better? I use a chrome vanadium screwdriver which seems to work fine.

 

[matthewwh]

Depends on your screwdriver I suppose.

I've tried screwdrivers, backs of gouges, drill bits... then tried an Arno and the urge to experiment went away.

 

[Graham Orm]

Depends on your screwdriver I suppose.

I've tried screwdrivers, backs of gouges, drill bits... then tried an Arno and the urge to experiment went away.

Thanks for the input Matthew, just watched your Workshop Heaven video of it. Impressive.

 

[bugbear]

Do you have back to back evidence that a burnisher is better? I use a chrome vanadium screwdriver which seems to work fine.

I found an old burnisher at a car boot for 50p; a quick rub on SiC bought it to a mirror finish,
and it seems to work well - I've never had a scraper mark it in any way, so I assume it's hard enough.

I've never tried a screwdriver.

BugBear

 

[Racers]

I have tried a Two Cherrys burnisher a hard screwdriver but the best thing I have found is my home made burnisher made from a Carbide milling cutter, its about 3mm in diameter and works very well. I thing the small diameter has a smaller contact patch that increases the force on the scraper.

I made three and gave two away.



The cutter are still for sale if you want to make one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310635074873? ... 1423.l2649

Pete

 

[bugbear]

I have tried a Two Cherrys burnisher a hard screwdriver but the best thing I have found is my home made burnisher made from a Carbide milling cutter, its about 3mm in diameter and works very well. I thing the small diameter has a smaller contact patch that increases the force on the scraper.

I made three and gave two away.



The cutter are still for sale if you want to make one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310635074873? ... 1423.l2649

Pete

Did you (need to) polish them any further beyond their delivered state? They're only shanks after all...

BugBear

 

[MIGNAL]

Car engine valve. Works for me and much better/cheaper than my two cherries burnisher.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Do you have back to back evidence that a burnisher is better? I use a chrome vanadium screwdriver which seems to work fine.

I think if it works, stick with it.

Back in the good old days, most scrapers were made from old saws or from sawblade stock, and the writers of the time usually recommended something like a gouge back as a burnisher (Charles Hayward, for example). In the modern era, some premium scrapers are made from harder stock, and the gouge back of old may not be quite hard enough to give a reliable burr without being marked itself. In that case, the carbide burnisher - or at any rate a carbon steel burnisher hardened almost right out - will give more reliable results. The harder burnisher will also work with softer scrapers, of course.

Whether harder scrapers are worth it is probably a personal decision, rather like the A2/O1 plane iron debate. But if what you have works for you, why change it?

 

[Racers]

I have tried a Two Cherrys burnisher a hard screwdriver but the best thing I have found is my home made burnisher made from a Carbide milling cutter, its about 3mm in diameter and works very well. I thing the small diameter has a smaller contact patch that increases the force on the scraper.

I made three and gave two away.



Pete

Did you (need to) polish them any further beyond their delivered state? They're only shanks after all...

BugBear

They is well shiny, no need to polish.

I still have some shanks left if you want one.

Pete

 

[Bluekingfisher]

i always believed a high carbon rod was required so if the blade of your screwdriver has the high content and works then stay with it.

I am also of the opinion a thin rather than thicker rod is preferable.

 

[Graham Orm]

Depends on your screwdriver I suppose.

I've tried screwdrivers, backs of gouges, drill bits... then tried an Arno and the urge to experiment went away.

Ordered.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

I use a chrome vanadium screwdriver which seems to work fine.

+1

Works well for me.

Neil

 

[tobytools]

The Clifton burnished is all your ever need, no messing about with screwdrivers, rods and that. They may work I'm not saying they don't (screwdrivers and the like).

Job done

TT

 

[bugbear]

The Clifton burnished is all your ever need, no messing about with screwdrivers, rods and that. They may work I'm not saying they don't (screwdrivers and the like).

Job done

TT

I think Mr Maddex's carbide way is (a lot) cheaper, as well as being harder...

That being said, on the scale of things, even a "proper" burnisher is cheap, so if ya' got the dough - buy what you like!

BugBear

 

[Graham Orm]

The Clifton burnished is all your ever need, no messing about with screwdrivers, rods and that. They may work I'm not saying they don't (screwdrivers and the like).

Job done

TT

I think Mr Maddex's carbide way is (a lot) cheaper, as well as being harder...

That being said, on the scale of things, even a "proper" burnisher is cheap, so if ya' got the dough - buy what you like!

BugBear

I've ordered an ARNO from matthew at Workshop Heaven. £20 ish so not a silly price and worth a punt I reckon. I can get the edge using a scrudgie but ever seeking protection......or something like that.

 

[Trafalgar]

I have the Clifton and love it. There's no need for carbide. The Cliffy is hard enough -- works fine on a vintage Sandvik scraper, the standard by which others are measured.

 

[tobytools]

The Clifton burnished is all your ever need, no messing about with screwdrivers, rods and that. They may work I'm not saying they don't (screwdrivers and the like).

Job done

TT

I think Mr Maddex's carbide way is (a lot) cheaper, as well as being harder...

That being said, on the scale of things, even a "proper" burnisher is cheap, so if ya' got the dough - buy what you like!

BugBear

I really like "The home made tooll who dosent. I've made plenty but when you note how long you have taken to get from raw materials to a finished piece
Say 2hours, and what your worth an hour (go by work pay)
It's cheaper to buy a new one.
But where is the fun it that, hey!

Like you say if you have the cash, have a splash.
I even splash when I have no cash

Pete your a fantastic tool maker btw.

+2 Clifton

Ttfn
TT

 

[JimB]

I would use the back of a gouge or a screwdriver depending on which was nearer. They worked fine but now our son bought me a Two Cherries one and I use that. I expect I'll find another use for it somewhere along the line.

 

[bugbear]

I really like "The home made tooll who dosent. I've made plenty but when you note how long you have taken to get from raw materials to a finished piece
Say 2hours, and what your worth an hour (go by work pay)
It's cheaper to buy a new one.

Well, here's a piece of philosophy. It costs around £20 for a couple
of (hopefully) enjoyable hours in a cinema watching the latest blockbuster.

But I also enjoy messing around in my workshop. So if I save £20 on cinema
tickets and save £20 on a purchase burnisher, I'm a hapypy bunny, and quids
in to boot!

Works rates only apply when it's work!

BugBear

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

I have the Clifton and love it. There's no need for carbide. The Cliffy is hard enough -- works fine on a vintage Sandvik scraper, the standard by which others are measured.

I would agree with this statement with one exception: there is no need for carbide, UNLESS the carbide is polished to a mirror finish. Burnishers, such as the Clifton, have more than sufficient polish to do the job and most carbide burnishers have a surface finish too rough, which will not do as good a job as another material, such as drill rod.

A burnisher needs to be harder than the scraper and also needs to have an extremely fine polish. Meet that criteria and whatever is at hand will work.