Leather Sanding/burnishing Clamp Jig for Relieving Joint Pressure

If you work with leather you know all about sanding and burnishing edges. You also likely know about the pressure these activities can put on your hands overall, including your wrists, finger joints, and tendons. I've had carpal tunnel surgery on one wrist and am slowly starting to notice stiffness in my joints after days of work during which my hands need to hold/grip/pinch things. Time for making adjustments!

The jig in this instructable is essentially a portable clamp that will hold leather for you while sanding/burnishing to take the pressure off your hands. It's also super easy to make. Let's get to it!

To make this jig you will need:

• Two pieces of wood, approximately 22cm in length (I used melamine MDF, but if you anticipate it getting wet, this is not a good choice).
• Three threaded bolts. The size for these can vary; just make sure you have a drill bit for the size you use and that the bolts will fit snugly in the holes.
• Two washers for each bolt.
• Hand drill/drill press
• Table saw/jig saw/drop saw/hand saw

Note: check Tip 2 at the end of this instructable for more information related to the wood used for the clamp.

Take the wood you are going to use and cut two pieces of the same size. This can vary depending on your preference and the types of projects you are making. Mine was 22 cm in length and 8.5 cm wide. I used a table saw to cut my pieces but you can also use a drop saw/jigsaw/hand saw to do this.

Note: I forgot to take an image of the wood before drilling the holes so ignore them in this image.

The next step is to drill the holes. Take one of the pieces you cut and find the middle (both length/width). Mark this off and using a ruler, in line with the center, mark off a hole on each side about 1.5 cm from the edge. Using either a drill press or hand drill, drill three holes where you have marked them out using a drill bit that will ensure the bolts you are using will fit snugly.

Once you have drilled the three holes in one of the pieces, overlay it on the second piece. Clamp them together, ensuring that they are perfectly overlaid. Use a pencil/punch/awl/long screw to mark out the drilled holes on the second piece. Unclamp them and drill the holes in the second piece.

Line the two wood pieces up so that the drilled holes are overlaid. Insert the bolts through the holes, adding a washer on both ends. Add the nuts to the bolts and voila! You are done :)

I find resting the clamped piece in my palm so much easier on my finger joints because I am not constantly pinching my thumb and forefinger together when sanding/burnishing. You can even use a small hand clamp to secure the jig to your work table.

Tip 1: I typically do all my serious sanding on leather edges after I have dyed the (vegetable tanned) leather. The dye renders the edges of the leather stiffer and easier to evenly sand (before adding the final oil/finishing balm). I use a small dowel with different grits of sandpaper glued to it for sanding, which also takes additional pressure off my joints/tendons.

Tip 2: Because I used melamine MDF, the inside edges of my clamp is smooth and won't scratch the leather. If you've used a different type of wood, you can glue some scrap leather pieces over the mouth of the clamp for protection.