At an antique show I went to recently I saw a tool I didn’t recognize. I didn’t have my camera, so I drew a picture – attached – that gives a rough approximation. The person manning the booth said he was sure it was a woodworking tool (I asked if it might have been for leatherworking or something like that), and he called it a burnisher. I guess I can imagine that back in the days before sandpaper was routinely available, wood surfaces might have been “burnished” by this sort of “wood plane without a blade.” Anyone know anthing?
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Looks like it could be used for burnishing leather , dunno if you would burnish wood like that .
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It is a lead dresser or slapper used for shaping flashings etc.
Thanks. I googled it to see modern versions, and am sure you've nailed it.
I forgot to add to my drawing that the body had some holes drilled into it were lead had been poured to add to the weight.
So this was likely a roofers or plumber's tool, I guess.
They are still used in the UK were tile and york stone roofs abound Lead is still the flashing of choice as it can be slapped to fit irregular surfaces.In North America we tend to use more rigid material and brake it to shape in the workshop.There they just bring a roll of lead and do a lot of shaping on the job. I have used some of these tools as a source of dry boxwood for turning
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