Back
DIY Rotary Burnisher From an Allen Wrench for Porosity
A tip from @lui.gewelry for turning a cut hex wrench into a rotary burnisher in a Foredom handpiece to smooth surface porosity on castings.
Posted about 3 hours ago
•
473 likes
•
16 comments
DIY BURNISHER made from an Allen wrench! 🤯🔨 Love this clever tip shared by @lui.gewelry!
This jeweler cut the bent end off a hex wrench (also known as an Allen wrench) and inserted it directly into a Foredom H.30 handpiece to create a homemade rotary burnisher!
So why does this work? When jewelry is cast, tiny pits or pores can sometimes appear on the surface of the metal. Burnishing uses pressure to compress and move the metal at the surface, helping to smooth over those small imperfections rather than removing material like sanding or filing would.
As the Allen wrench rotates, its edges create a repeated burnishing action that can help smooth out superficial porosity. Keep in mind that this is a surface-finishing technique and won’t fix deeper porosity within the casting!
We’ve shared other DIY burnishers before, but I especially love how simple this one is to make using a tool many of us probably already have lying around our studios!
Have you ever made your own burnishing tool? I’d love to hear about it!
📩 Have a jewelry-making tip to share? Send it to tips@metalsmithsociety.com!
#DIYBurnisher #JewelryCasting #CastingPorosity #RotaryBurnishing #DIYJewelryTools
This jeweler cut the bent end off a hex wrench (also known as an Allen wrench) and inserted it directly into a Foredom H.30 handpiece to create a homemade rotary burnisher!
So why does this work? When jewelry is cast, tiny pits or pores can sometimes appear on the surface of the metal. Burnishing uses pressure to compress and move the metal at the surface, helping to smooth over those small imperfections rather than removing material like sanding or filing would.
As the Allen wrench rotates, its edges create a repeated burnishing action that can help smooth out superficial porosity. Keep in mind that this is a surface-finishing technique and won’t fix deeper porosity within the casting!
We’ve shared other DIY burnishers before, but I especially love how simple this one is to make using a tool many of us probably already have lying around our studios!
Have you ever made your own burnishing tool? I’d love to hear about it!
📩 Have a jewelry-making tip to share? Send it to tips@metalsmithsociety.com!
#DIYBurnisher #JewelryCasting #CastingPorosity #RotaryBurnishing #DIYJewelryTools
