Agate Burnisher / Folder for Paper

by Fikjast Scott in Craft > Paper

13697 Views, 109 Favorites, 0 Comments

Agate Burnisher / Folder for Paper

034.JPG
001.JPG
003.JPG

I enjoy working with paper; I use a steel burnisher and a bone folder to make crisp folds. I wanted to add some odd shape burnishers to my tool box. Making some out of stone (agate) fits the bill. Having a few agates lying around, I made different sizes and shapes. This is what I wanted to share in this instructables.

Sliced Potatoes

032 (Small).JPG
040.JPG
035.JPG
030.JPG

Agates that I use can be found in Michigan. I tell people to look for a stone that looks like a potatoe. You can hold them up to a strong light to see what is inside as far as patterns. For this application of making burnishers, I can use almost any part of the agate. Agates are very hard and polish to a very smooth finish. I use a large diamond saw to cut the agate into slabs.

Cutting Down the Slabs to a Smaller Size

036 (Small).JPG

Then I cut the slaps down on a smaller diamond saw.

The closer I get to the sizes I want, the less I have to do on the grinders.

I am cutting the slabs to be under 2 inches square, so they can fit comfortably in my palm of my hand.

Grinding and Polishing

043 (Small).JPG
053 (Small).JPG
056 (Small).JPG

I start by using an 80 grit diamond wheel (with lots of water) to shape the small slab.

I focus on just a few edges that I want to use for burnishing.

The other edges I smooth for comfort. So there is a lot of stopping to see how it feels in my hand.

I move from one grit wheel to another, till I get to an 1200 grit polish wheel.

The final treatment is using Cerium polishing wheel, just on the burnish edge for final smooth finish.

Adding a Wood Handle

Agate burnisher 1.jpg

With one of the agates, I added a 3/8 inch diameter by 3 ¾ inch long wood handle.

A 7/16 inch diameter brass ferrule was added.

I put a small drop of all purpose glue on the stone, then used pliers to close the brass ferrule around the agate.

Pictured is my quick holding fixture for gluing.

Finished

028.JPG
038 (2).JPG

A picture of some of my different size and shape agate burnishers.

Thanks for viewing.