Burnishing with shavings: Does anyone do this, and if so when? What is the effect?

[Henry W]

All
I watched a Fine WW video in which Timothy Rousseau described making a hall table base using walnut. He described cutting the curves and then planing, scraping, and sanding various parts in various ways. Then he demonstrates burnishing and says something like "..and as a final step I am just burnishing the surfaces with some shavings. If you have ever done this on a lathe you know how much difference this makes in the appearance of the surface..." Make me curious.

I guess I have heard of the technique, and maybe I did this on some turnings, but it has been a while since I turned anything that was not utilitarian.

So does anyone burnish either turned or flat pieces with shavings? Can you describe the effects that results?
Or in other words - WHY do you burnish?
If you do so selectively, which are the cases or situations in which you choose to burnish? To refrain from burnishing?

 

[creasman]

I do this whenever I use moulding planes to create an edge and also as a final step at the lathe. In both cases the shavings remove any fine burrs or splinters, and leave a smooth, glass-like surface.

 

[ashley_phil]

i've done it on bowls on the lathe. it leaves a really nice smooth surface. you want some of the big long shavings from the initial cuts.

be careful cause it will build heat and actually burnish/burn the wood.

that burning can actually end up as a cool effect if it's a light wood, i've burned the edges of maple bowls it it looks amazing.

 

[ashley_phil]

Got me thinking so I went and found a photo! Man this was a beautiful bowl. Need to turn some in the near future.

 

[smallboat]

That is a great detail. I’ve burned rings using a guitar string, but never thought to burn the lip of the bowl.
Nice

 

[Graywolf]

Burnishing with shavings is a simple way to polish a cut surface. I’ve used it on detail areas that are difficult to get a polished surface any other way. It’s not something I do every time. I have used it on turnings, moldings and flat surfaces. The fun part is I always have a trash can full of shavings to use. This brings to mind an experiment that should be run, to see the difference of finishing after burnishing and not. Something to play with.

 

[Ricksmi]

I use burnishing with shavings often on lathe turnings as well as on furniture pieces to achieve an incredible smooth surface. I am going to try the burning method on a bowl rim Phil shows today that I'm finishing.

 

[ashley_phil]

I use burnishing with shavings often on lathe turnings as well as on furniture pieces to achieve an incredible smooth surface. I am going to try the burning method on a bowl rim Phil shows today that I'm finishing.

Word of caution you can burn your pinky crease pretty easy. Not that I’d ever have done that!!

 

[Tach]

I burnish everything I turn except for pens. I was taught to do so way back in the day. I try to use shavings from when I have the surface rounded and not from where I am taking away the corners. I think it polishes the surface and also help to remove the dust from the pores.

 

[JRedding]

I was taught to burnish with a brown paper grocery bag. Same concept and it gives everything a nice smooth finish.

 

[Jim Wallace]

I was taught to do this at the lathe and when I made my first Shaker chair I burnished all the parts on the lathe as they were finished. After drilling for the rungs, assembly, and finishing I realized that since I used through wedged joints I had made a dull spot where each rung intersected a leg. Trying to buff it out with shavings by hand was fruitless as I couldn’t match the polish I had achieved on the lathe. I ended up resanding the whole chair with fine paper, then burnishing by hand before finishing.