What Is a DR3K Glove Break-In?

A new glove is stiff on purpose. Here is how a DR3K machine break-in works and what it costs.

What is a DR3K glove break-in?

It is a machine break-in done on a DR3K, a glove press built for break-in work. The press drives a padded head into the pocket, the heel, and the hinge points of the glove over and over, which loosens leather that would otherwise take weeks of catch to soften. A glove tech positions the glove by hand between presses, so the leather gets worked where it needs to fold and left alone where it needs to stay firm.

The goal is the same one you have breaking a glove in at home. You want a pocket that closes easily, in the shape that suits your position, without weakening the leather or the laces.

How does the DR3K machine work?

The DR3K runs on compressed air. A foot pedal opens the air valves to a pneumatic cylinder, and the cylinder drives the press. Its maker, Bois d'Arc Studio in Commerce, Texas, lists about 1,000 pounds of force at the recommended 80 psi, with the pressure adjustable from 0 to 100 psi. Because the pedal runs the press, the tech has both hands free to turn and fold the glove.

Pressure does the softening. The machine does not bake or soak the glove, which matters, because heat and heavy water are what dry leather out and shorten a glove's life.

How much does a glove break-in cost at Burghardt?

Prices depend on the service level and on where the glove came from. Gloves bought at Burghardt get the lower price.

• Basic break-in: $40 for a glove bought at Burghardt, $60 for a glove bought elsewhere.
• Advanced Break-In and Shaping: $80 for a glove bought at Burghardt, $120 for a glove bought elsewhere.
• 24-hour rush on the Advanced service: $50.

Current pricing for every in-house service, including relacing and steaming, is on the Burghardt services page.

How long does a DR3K break-in take?

A Basic break-in takes about 10 minutes on the machine. When the schedule and the machine are open, it is done on the spot while you wait. When they are not, the turnaround is 2 to 4 business days.

The Advanced service has a 4 to 7 business day turnaround, since the glove gets hand shaping and conditioning after the machine work. If you need it sooner, the 24-hour rush is $50.

What is the difference between Basic and Advanced break-in?

Pick Basic if you like finishing a glove yourself and want it softened enough to take to practice tomorrow. Pick Advanced if you know how you want the glove to close and want it ready for a game without a break-in period.

What do hinge, flare, and finger shaping mean?

These are the choices you make for an Advanced break-in. Each one changes how the glove folds and how the pocket sits.

• Single hinge: the glove folds closed along one main crease, so it snaps shut in one motion.
• Double hinge: the glove folds along two creases, which spreads the bend out and gives a flatter, more open pocket.
• Thumb flare or pinky flare: the thumb or pinky side is shaped to angle outward, opening the glove wider on that side. You can also ask for no flare.
• Finger shaping: rolled fingers curl in at the top of the glove, straight fingers stay flat for a longer reach, and hybrid fingers get a slight roll.

If you are not sure what you want, bring your player in and talk it through at the counter. How a player catches the ball tells us more than a position label does.

Is a machine break-in better than steaming or breaking it in by hand?

All three work. They differ in time, cost, and how much shaping you get done for you.

Steamed gloves cannot be returned, per the services page. For the by-hand method, our earlier post on how to break in and care for a baseball glove walks through it step by step.

Where can you get a glove broken in near Milwaukee?

Burghardt Sporting Goods runs the DR3K in house at its store on W National Avenue in New Berlin, in the Milwaukee metro. The store has been family owned since 1881 and keeps a Wall of Gloves for baseball gloves, so you can pick the glove and have it broken in on the same visit. Gloves bought somewhere else are welcome too, at the higher service price.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring in a glove I bought somewhere else?

Yes. Both break-in levels are open to any glove. A Basic break-in is $60 and Advanced is $120 for a glove bought elsewhere, compared with $40 and $80 for a glove bought at Burghardt.

Will a machine break-in damage the leather?

The DR3K softens leather with pressure, and a tech controls where that pressure lands. It does not use the oven, microwave, or soaking tricks that dry leather out. The Advanced service also includes conditioning, which keeps the leather supple after the work is done.

What do I still have to do after a Basic break-in?

Play catch. A Basic break-in gets the glove about 60 percent of the way and leaves the last 40 percent to you on purpose, so the pocket forms around your hand and the way you catch. A week or two of regular catch usually finishes the job.

Can I get a glove broken in the same day?

A Basic break-in can be done on the spot when the schedule and the machine are open, which takes about 10 minutes. Call (262) 790-1170 before you drive over to check. The Advanced service has a 24-hour rush for $50.

Should I break in a glove before I am sure I am keeping it?

No. Break-in shapes the leather to one player and one style of play, so settle on the glove first. If you are choosing between two, try both on at the Wall of Gloves before you hand one over.

Is single hinge or double hinge better for an infielder?

It comes down to the player. A double hinge gives a flatter pocket that some infielders like for getting the ball out fast. A single hinge closes in one motion and holds the ball deeper. Talk it through with us at the counter, and bring the player if you can.

DR3K specifications come from the manufacturer, Bois d'Arc Studio of Commerce, Texas. Service levels, prices, and turnaround times come from the Burghardt Sporting Goods services page and in-store service notes as of October 2026; check the services page for current pricing. Want to know what to ask for at the counter? Read the companion post, How to Order a Glove Break-In That Fits Your Game.