Edge bevelling removes the sharp corner from both sides of a cut leather edge using a small cutting tool called an edge beveller. This creates a chamfered profile that allows burnishing compound to compress the edge into a smooth, rounded shape. Without bevelling, the edge stays flat and square regardless of how carefully the rest of the process is done. Bevel after cutting, before sanding, on both the grain and flesh sides.
The most common leather edge finishing mistakes are skipping the bevel step (which leaves a flat, square edge that won’t burnish into a rounded profile), applying too much burnishing compound, and not sanding properly before burnishing. Most edge problems trace back to preparation rather than the wrong product. Fix each issue by going back to the relevant preparation stage, not by applying more compound on top.
To burnish leather edges with Tokonole: cut the edge cleanly, bevel both sides with an edge beveller, sand through medium and fine grit, apply a small amount of Tokonole, and burnish immediately with firm back-and-forth strokes. The friction compresses the fibres into a smooth, dense edge. Repeat as needed; stop when the edge is compact and consistent.
Leather edge finishing is a five-step sequence: cut the edge cleanly, bevel both sides with an edge beveller, sand through progressively finer grits, apply a small amount of burnishing compound, and burnish with firm, consistent strokes. Each step prepares the edge for the next. Skipping the bevel step makes a proper rounded finish impossible.
Tokonole and Gum Tragacanth are both water-based edge burnishing compounds for vegetable-tanned leather. Tokonole gives a slightly more polished, consistent result and is available in clear, brown, and black. Gum Tragacanth is the traditional product, giving a slightly drier, more natural finish. For most makers, Tokonole is the more predictable starting choice.