How to Finish Leather Edges (Burnish & Dye) - Beginners

Here is my process of finishing edges on vegetable tanned leather projects. This is not the only way or the "correct" way to finish edges. There are many different methods and products available to achieve a slick, clean edge. Most of these processes are my personal preference and work well for me, but do some experimenting and find out what works best for you. Below is a short list of tools and products that I use and will help with this process. I will also add a short list of my order of operations for this method. Thank you all for watching and for your support! Please subscribe to the channel for more videos like this and feel free to drop video recommendations in the comments!
Tools and products I used in this video:
- Leather (Obviously)
- Sand paper ( I also use a dremel but it is not required. I use P 120 grit sand paper but use what works well for you)
- Edge beveler ( I use a very inexpensive edge beveler with interchangeable heads, from Tandy)
- Canvas cloth ( Denim will also work well)
- Wooden slicker
- Water (If you have issues with staining then try distilled water)
- Glycerin saddle soap
- Fiebings Pro Dye
- Q-Tips for applying dye to edges ( regular daubers work too)
- Tan Kote
- Sheep skin pad (for applying tan kote)
Order of Operations:
1. If you are gluing multiple pieces of leather together, then make sure the edges are glued together well and trimmed flush.
2. Bevel the edges, front and back.
3. Sand the edges ( I start off with a dremel and finish sanding by hand after. You can sand by hand the entire time if you dont have a dremel or sanding wheel)
4. Apply water to the edge and then rub glycerin saddle soap on the edge.
5. Using canvas cloth, rub the edge back and forth to generate friction and begin the slicking process.
6. After using the canvas cloth, allow the edge to dry slightly and then finish burnishing with a wooden slicker.
7. Allow the edge to dry completely
8. Apply desired color of dye to the edge using a dauber or Q-Tip. Apply at least 2-3 coats of dye, depending on color and desired look.
9. Allow dye to dry at least one hour
10. Apply Tan Kote to the edge to remove any excess dye pigment and to seal the edge.
Visit my website to shop products I have built or to read my story on starting this business!
girtyleatherco.com/
Follow me on Instagram to see more content and finished product pictures!
/ girtyleatherco
#leather #handmadeleather #leatheredges #leathercraft #leatherwork #edgeburnishing #howtoleather #leatheredges

Пікірлер: 31

  • @caulkdaddy1
    @caulkdaddy16 ай бұрын

    Man…your “order of operation “ is 100% how my brain works!! Thank you for laying those out.

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    6 ай бұрын

    I’m glad I could be of some help! I appreciate the comment

  • @caulkdaddy1

    @caulkdaddy1

    6 ай бұрын

    @@Girtyleatherco great video all around. I’ve been doing leather for 2+yrs now and this helped tremendously. Thanks again

  • @ronpeterson9055
    @ronpeterson90554 ай бұрын

    Very good description of edge finishing.

  • @joeljimenez8560
    @joeljimenez85607 ай бұрын

    Good information. Thank you.

  • @bluecorddrones9414
    @bluecorddrones94143 ай бұрын

    Verbatim to what @caulkdaddy1 said. Your informative, clear and just the right amount of information I needed. Glad I found your channel. Be safe. “you dont talk too much”

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    3 ай бұрын

    Well I appreciate that! I just try to give as much information as I can haha

  • @MrNastyNeto
    @MrNastyNeto7 ай бұрын

    Great work

  • @johnnymoya8541
    @johnnymoya8541Ай бұрын

    Thank you for another great video!

  • @Captaraknospider
    @Captaraknospider4 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your video

  • @Shwizzynet
    @Shwizzynet3 ай бұрын

    I recently switched from those same Tandy bevelers you’re using to the Tandy “keen” beveler #3. The blade has a much more rounded profile. Cuts a lot down on having to sand it to achieve the rounded profile. Highly recommend.

  • @goobermcboogerballs1420
    @goobermcboogerballs14206 ай бұрын

    Thumbnail game is on point.

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    6 ай бұрын

    Haha I appreciate that!

  • @cn-lo3dn
    @cn-lo3dn6 ай бұрын

    love your video at first i was wondering if i should come here like ya just another video about burnishing but wow quite nice because it's on thing to be shown that we should do a step some was but to explain why like you do makes a big difference thank you c.noel vancouver canada

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    6 ай бұрын

    I really appreciate that comment! I get worried I talk too much sometimes, but I just try to offer as much insight as I can. I try to answer all the questions I had when I first started.

  • @jonas-mb6cf
    @jonas-mb6cf5 ай бұрын

    Great video 👌🏻

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    5 ай бұрын

    I appreciate that!

  • @RoamingMustang
    @RoamingMustang7 ай бұрын

    Great video again ! I use pretty much the exact same process. I used to use tokonole but lately I find myself using pretty much only glycerine soap. For the dying process though, invest in a dye marker, this is really a life changer, and less waste too, probably cheaper on the long term also ^^ I dye my edges only in black or brown so I only have two, and it make it way more easier, lots of control, less messy and faster than qtips. I usually still put some tokonole to finish it, but I'm gonna try tan kote now, I finish my product with it, so why not my edges. Always experimenting! Cheers

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    7 ай бұрын

    I appreciate that, I’m definitely going to try some of those markers out. Do you have any recommendations for them? I’m still experimenting daily myself, there’s always room to learn and grow

  • @muddymom
    @muddymom6 ай бұрын

    Another great video. I'm definitely going to score some of that glycerine saddle soap and try your method. I've used gum trag and beeswax, but have never been entirely satisfied with my edges. I have had some luck putting a wooden slicker (one of those spool-type ones from Tandy) on a stud, and placing it in the chuck of an electric drill. I've seen ones that work in a Dremel too. Kinda speeds up the process a little.

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    6 ай бұрын

    I have seen some of those that fit in a dremel as well but I have not tried that yet! I might have to give it a go one day

  • @adamethancrow
    @adamethancrow2 ай бұрын

    Thanks buddy

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    Ай бұрын

    Happy to help!

  • @joseavechuco5148
    @joseavechuco51486 ай бұрын

    Great video man I really admire your work. What type of Dremel do you use?

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    5 ай бұрын

    Thank you! I have the Dremel 3000. Is that what you were referring to?

  • @pedroramos6472
    @pedroramos64723 ай бұрын

    Have more confidence you do very good work that’s why subscribed I have two other businesses that I do great at but I wanted to let you know you got this down be blessed

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    3 ай бұрын

    I appreciate that! Thank you for following along and supporting

  • @pedroramos6472

    @pedroramos6472

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Girtyleatherco you welcome!!

  • @mitchj8032
    @mitchj80325 ай бұрын

    Why do channel owners all talk to dam much. Like a bunch of chatter boxes. Bla bla bla

  • @Girtyleatherco

    @Girtyleatherco

    5 ай бұрын

    There is a condensed order of operations list in the description if you don’t want to watch the full video.

  • @robrichardson1284

    @robrichardson1284

    2 ай бұрын

    too.. is the correct spelling 😜.. and I didn’t think it was too much for a beginner like me.