Burnish edges before tillering...

[MaceG]

    Got a red oak board, I've smoothed the edges. Do you think burnishing might help to keep a possible splinter from popping up?

[woodstick]

dont know bout board bows but i allways burnish my bow before i put tru oil on.

[MaceG]

     This is my third bow, my first board bow. Dimensioned lumber just seems wrong, but I'm staveless, so I thought I'd give it a try.
  Thanks for your reply.

[George Tsoukalas]

It could but keep in ind that once you burnish the wood won't absorb stain. Jawge

[Pat B]

At this point rounding the edges would be more practical. I have never burnished a bow and never had a reason to do so. 

[radius]

never boned a bow, Pat?  Not even that mega warbow you made?

[Pat B]

Never! not even...

[Pappy]

I do sometimes and sometime not.If it looks a little porous on the sides after scraping and sanding I will.
Keep in mind what George said about stain.I don't stain much so that usually don't matter.I do think it helps in keeping moisture out.
  Pappy

[MaceG]

Yeah, if it repels stain it ought to help turn water. I'm thinking maybe I'll finish it with linseed oil, then a coat of paraffin and burnish it in.

[shamus]

Round those edges!

 Use your scraper and round off any edges a bow.  Sharp corners are a no-no.

Burnishing was/is done for a bow's back to keep fibers down, but I never saw much benefit in it.. one way or the other. I don't burnish anymore.. not for years.

[Del the cat]

I never saw much benefit in it.. one way or the other. I don't burnish anymore.. not for years.

I used to rub my bows down with horsefeathers at the time of the full moon...