A lot of edge finishing problems start with your selection of leather for both the body of the sheath and the welt. If you use really top grade tight grain leather to start with for both the body AND the welt you will minimize your problems right from the start. If you have good leather for top and bottom and a softer belly leather welt, I guarantee no amount of sanding or burnishing is going to produce a prize winning finish. The softer leather will actually move with the sanding device and material will just lay over and not be removed at the same rate leaving a high or low spot in the center of the three layers. If you have chosen less than prime leather for the body of the sheath, and for the welt, (saving money and /or not wasting leather) you have cost yourself the heavy price of a much less than perfect finish job, and since it's three layers, you've tripled your problem.
It is far cheaper in the long run to use top quality leather throughout the piece and have something that you are really proud of
..than it is to do it over because of bad results or worse yet, reflecting on your ability or apparent lack thereof.
Three or more layers of really good tight leather will produce a nice consistent finished edge IF you have performed all the steps necessary to get there.
Choosing good tight flesh side leather is more important than anything I know for obtaining beautifully finished edges.
Paul
