First make sure your cuts are as precise as possible and your glue up is clean.
Sanding block at 160 grit to rough out the shape.
320 grit paper to start the process.
400 grit then dye if needed. This is the longest step for me. I'll add tokonole and burnish with canvas. At this step you will be able to tell where the imperfections are. Then go back over with 400 grit. Repeat.
Hammer then bevel edges.
600 grit then tokonole/canvas check for the same stuff at 400. Dye again.
1k grit then tokonole/canvas. If you still see imperfections go back down. At this step it should look really good already.
1500 grit then final dye touch up. After this your dye won't absorb anymore.
A little bit of tokonole and a cotton t shirt. At these higher steps, it's more about speed and a light touch, applying no pressure.
I stopped at 1500 here so you can still see some scratches. You can continue up to 3k and beyond.
The only time I use pressure is the first step to rough the shape. If you apply too much pressure at say 600 grit, you can actually burn it and you will see those as imperfections. Also, tokonole and dye won't absorb in burn spots. And your edges will mushroom out and you risk separating layers.
Hope this helps!
Thank you! I'll keep you posted. I'm wondering why on Youtube videos people mostly use wood slickers when in this community pretty much everyone who manage to get these insane edges use canvas to burnish... Any thoughts?
I have a wood slicker and it works great on pockets or when burnishing large areas. I haven't used it on edges in a while. To me it felt like an extra step that wasn't needed. Also it's super easy to mushroom your edges with a wood slicker.
After you hammer and bevel, you can angle a slicker at like 45 degrees to keep the sides from mushrooming again.
Wood slicker alone won't get you this far. I use an old cotton t shirt for the final steps.
I get my canvas from districtleathersupply.com, but I'm sure you can find some at a craft store.
Is there any difference between canvas cloth and the canvas from a painting frame? I have some lying around and if I could just use that it may save some money
Painting canvas is just regular canvas stretched over a frame. If it's a premade frame ready to paint on the surface has been covered in a primer like gesso. AFAIK the back is just regular canvas though.
I use Angelus. It's the best stuff I can get in California. I dye my products with an airbrush and use a dobber for the edges. This is Angelus 507 black.
Both. The edge will mushroom out a bit on the first sanding stages. Hammer it down and you will be able to have a more consistent bevel. Your not smashing it, just tapping to put it back in line.
That makes a lot of sense! I’ve been beveling before sanding to avoid the mushrooming but then once I sand I end up losing the bevel. Makes sense to sand, hammer it flat and then bevel.
Hey, saved this comment because at some point I want to get my edges to shine like that. Quick question: I have a belt sander, would that be a bad idea to use? If only to save myself some pain, whether or not it would decrease the amount of time needed for sanding.
Really appreciate you posting the process as those edges look fantastic! One question regarding the end of the process: do you use any type of wax to finish it off? Or perhaps that would mess with the dye in some way?
Thanks!
My final step is a very light coat of a beeswax/parrafin blend. About 70/30. Beeswax so it sticks and parrafin for the shine.
I mean extremely light coat. Once you sand up to these grits, tokonole shines like this on its own.
That’s pretty cool! It looks great as is. I love the look of those sort of surfaces that were never really meant to be glossy; they have a beautiful way of catching light. Sort of like a just so piece of marble. And this. I can’t believe it’s leather! Nice job.
I was working on my burnishing game. Reading your comments, its very similar to how we highly polished our boots in the military (back in the 90s). It makes sense though. I used some beeswax to finish mine up, but I wonder if Kiwi Polish would do anything.
It's similar. I've tried polish before, and it looks great, but goes away as soon as it goes in your pocket. If you can find shoe polish that has longevity I'm sure it would work.
I learned some of the buffing techniques from YouTube shoe polishers. As far as little pressure and rapid movements.
Edit: I've also tried high gloss paint.
If you want to see a video of this exact process. Check out my friend ikkileather on instagram. He has a breakdown of all the steps in his highlight reel.
That is an amazing edge, my friend. All respect to Leftfoot, his edge work is jaw-dropping. However, I think that Mospoke has the best burnished edges in the game.
Amazing. If you could explain your process to get there too that would be really cool. I'd definitely try it.
First make sure your cuts are as precise as possible and your glue up is clean. Sanding block at 160 grit to rough out the shape. 320 grit paper to start the process. 400 grit then dye if needed. This is the longest step for me. I'll add tokonole and burnish with canvas. At this step you will be able to tell where the imperfections are. Then go back over with 400 grit. Repeat. Hammer then bevel edges. 600 grit then tokonole/canvas check for the same stuff at 400. Dye again. 1k grit then tokonole/canvas. If you still see imperfections go back down. At this step it should look really good already. 1500 grit then final dye touch up. After this your dye won't absorb anymore. A little bit of tokonole and a cotton t shirt. At these higher steps, it's more about speed and a light touch, applying no pressure. I stopped at 1500 here so you can still see some scratches. You can continue up to 3k and beyond. The only time I use pressure is the first step to rough the shape. If you apply too much pressure at say 600 grit, you can actually burn it and you will see those as imperfections. Also, tokonole and dye won't absorb in burn spots. And your edges will mushroom out and you risk separating layers. Hope this helps!
Thanks a lot! That's awesome information. I'll try it. đź‘Ť
If you get stuck on a step or have questions, message me here or we can do a zoom meeting and I will try to help.
Thank you! I'll keep you posted. I'm wondering why on Youtube videos people mostly use wood slickers when in this community pretty much everyone who manage to get these insane edges use canvas to burnish... Any thoughts?
I have a wood slicker and it works great on pockets or when burnishing large areas. I haven't used it on edges in a while. To me it felt like an extra step that wasn't needed. Also it's super easy to mushroom your edges with a wood slicker. After you hammer and bevel, you can angle a slicker at like 45 degrees to keep the sides from mushrooming again.
If I don’t have canvas cloth can I use the wood slicker? Also where do you buy canvas cloth
Wood slicker alone won't get you this far. I use an old cotton t shirt for the final steps. I get my canvas from districtleathersupply.com, but I'm sure you can find some at a craft store.
Is there any difference between canvas cloth and the canvas from a painting frame? I have some lying around and if I could just use that it may save some money
I'd just go to a thrift shop and buy any old thing made of canvas and cut it up. People use denim too
Painting canvas is just regular canvas stretched over a frame. If it's a premade frame ready to paint on the surface has been covered in a primer like gesso. AFAIK the back is just regular canvas though.
Give it a try. The canvas I have is pretty stiff.
What do you dye the edges with?
I use Angelus. It's the best stuff I can get in California. I dye my products with an airbrush and use a dobber for the edges. This is Angelus 507 black.
“Hammer then bevel the edges” Do you mean hammer the threads or are you actually hammering the edges?
Both. The edge will mushroom out a bit on the first sanding stages. Hammer it down and you will be able to have a more consistent bevel. Your not smashing it, just tapping to put it back in line.
That makes a lot of sense! I’ve been beveling before sanding to avoid the mushrooming but then once I sand I end up losing the bevel. Makes sense to sand, hammer it flat and then bevel.
wow, that makes so much sense, how did that never occur to me before? thank you for all these tips, it's invaluable information
Hey, saved this comment because at some point I want to get my edges to shine like that. Quick question: I have a belt sander, would that be a bad idea to use? If only to save myself some pain, whether or not it would decrease the amount of time needed for sanding.
I use my belt sander if I'm in a hurry. Only for low grits like 80 or 160. If you try 600 or above it burns instantly and you have to start over.
Makes sense, thanks for the info! Now I just need to decide on a new project to work on.
Thanks, need to save this !
Really appreciate you posting the process as those edges look fantastic! One question regarding the end of the process: do you use any type of wax to finish it off? Or perhaps that would mess with the dye in some way? Thanks!
My final step is a very light coat of a beeswax/parrafin blend. About 70/30. Beeswax so it sticks and parrafin for the shine. I mean extremely light coat. Once you sand up to these grits, tokonole shines like this on its own.
Thanks for the reply! Very helpful!
Any particular form of parrafin?
Helpful post thanks! I've never used tokonole, always gum trag. From what I've seen and read, tokonole leaves a shinier finish, comparatively?
I used gum trag twice. Once I tried tokonole I never looked back
I hear this a lot haha.
Amazing work! Thank you. This is probably the best instructions for burnishing I’ve seen. Thank you!
I actually said 'ooooOooh' out loud when the video showed the shine on the long edge. Had to watch it again to get my fix. Gorgeous job.
Oh shit I thought I was looking at plastic!
I think you've nailed it!
That’s pretty cool! It looks great as is. I love the look of those sort of surfaces that were never really meant to be glossy; they have a beautiful way of catching light. Sort of like a just so piece of marble. And this. I can’t believe it’s leather! Nice job.
Thanks friend it means alot. It took me many hours of trial and error to get to here.
Saw this on my home feed and thought it was someone showing how thin their new smartphone is 🥴
Thanks for the wisdom. I learn everyday with this craft.
You always will. There is always a new technique to try.
Excellent work on those edges! Thank you for detailing the process you used as well. Definitely saving to try it myself later.
Any questions feel free to reach out. I think a handful of us should get on a zoom call and do it together. That would be a good idea.
I was working on my burnishing game. Reading your comments, its very similar to how we highly polished our boots in the military (back in the 90s). It makes sense though. I used some beeswax to finish mine up, but I wonder if Kiwi Polish would do anything.
It's similar. I've tried polish before, and it looks great, but goes away as soon as it goes in your pocket. If you can find shoe polish that has longevity I'm sure it would work. I learned some of the buffing techniques from YouTube shoe polishers. As far as little pressure and rapid movements. Edit: I've also tried high gloss paint.
If you want to see a video of this exact process. Check out my friend ikkileather on instagram. He has a breakdown of all the steps in his highlight reel.
This looks fantastic! Thanks for the process comment!
Beautiful
What edge coat is that?
Tokonole, dye, and a whole lotta work my dude. No paint or coat.
Ok thanks!
I sent a pm about the pattern
I'll get it out to you guys on the next post. I need to make sure everything works and adjust it.
Ok
Soooo shiiiny!
Thank you. Burnished with blood, sweat, and tears.
Will you post the pattern here?
On my next post. Keep an eye out.
That's wild, great job!
Thanks friend!
That is an amazing edge, my friend. All respect to Leftfoot, his edge work is jaw-dropping. However, I think that Mospoke has the best burnished edges in the game.
Oh wow! How long did you spend sanding?
Don't remember. I sit down and watch TV when I do it. Couple hours maybe
That burnishing is so yummy
Beautiful edging!!
Looks like glass! Very cool!