New spin on brown-bag burnishing

[Donna_T]

Hi guys,
I just got back from a great 4-day carving workshop put on by the KAW Woodcarvers from Topeka, Kansas. It was held at an area college and I carved just about non-stop for 3 days!

Those of you who have been on the board for awhile have heard me talk about using a wadded up brown paper bag (grocery sack) to burnish a finished carving--and the luster that is achieved with this technique. While there, I carved under Pat Moore (she and her husband Randy from North Dakota have just purchased Rossiter's Rough Outs in Wichita, KS) and we exchanged finishing tips. She took the brown-bag technique a step farther. She cuts 1 1/2"-2 " circles out of brown paper and stacks them --7-10 layers--on a mandrel for her power carver. Once mounted on the mandrel, she cuts slits in the paper about every 1/2" around to give more flexibility and durability. Then she uses it to go all over her finished carvings. I tried it and I love it!! So much easier than my old way.

Also, instead of using one layer of Scotchbrite on her mandrel to de-fuzz a carving, she stacks 2-3 on the mandrel. They seem to last longer and do more good--faster--than the just one layer.

Just wanted to pass on the new twists to old techniques. You just never know what you'll learn when enthusiastic carvers get together.

Donna T

[Colin-Partridge]

Thanks Donna I always say it is a great day when you learn something and this is something I will definatly try. Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Colin

[Nancy-G]

Thanks Donna -- Thanks MUCH.
Now please tell me how to get more than one layer of Scotchbrite on a mandrel. This sounds like such a great idea.
Or perhaps my mandrels are very different from yours? Mine won't hold more than one layer and it takes many layers to defuzz anything. Sad And, gee, I have too much fuzz.

[Callynne]

Sounds like a great idea Donna, thanks for sharing it with us! I tried the brown paper bag thing once but didn't notice any difference between using it and not....think I was probably doing it wrong! I can see where this method would work well to buff the piece. I'll have to give it a try! Thanks! Deborah

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Good idea,,,I will try that paper bag trick, seems like the pieces would tear off? will sure find out............thanks!

[whitecree]

I once thought of doing this with a paper bag, but then I thought "Nah! If it was any good somebody else would have thought of it."

Heh. Now That "somebody else" Has discovered it, I'll have to give it a whirl. Pardon the pun.

[squbrigg]

What a great idea!

The old mind isn't connecting much lately..... paper rolls are what's used in the paper mill to burnish the glossy paper we make (the mill where I use to work). The freshly made paper with a white clay coating is passed through the "supercalander" a machine made up of hard steel rolls and paper rolls that buff the coated paper between them, making the magazine quality paper that magazines like WCI are printed on.

Should work well on wood. Must try it.

Bob

[Nancy-G]

hmmmm I wonder if this stuff would work on some of my skin which sure could use some smoothing out.
I could try, huh?

[Donna_T]

I'll see if I can answer questions and comments.

I take a piece of heavy brown paper from a grocery bag (yep, they still use them around here) usually about 12" x 16" or so--wad it up in a ball--then rub it briskly over a finished carving--that's been painted and dried. Sometimes I'll rub it for 15-30 minutes, depending on the size and detail of the carving. Make sure you get it down in all the cracks and crannies.

To get more layers of Scotchbrite on a mandrel, you just have to push the little screw through the layers and squish them down so you can screw it into the mandrel. I can get 2-3 layers with a little extra effort.

And, alas, Nancy, it won't take wrinkles out of aging skin--trust me, I would have used it already. I just don't wear my bifocals when I'm dressing so I can't see them as well! Guess they're my battle scars for living this long! Anyway, I'm not wrinkled--I'm ruffled.

Donna T