Thank you! I just used edge paint. I have gotten pretty good with it as I have been doing it like every day for 3 years, but that was 3 coats. There's no secret really. Just sand between coats with 400 grit. Don't take it any higher than 400 grit though. That gives you a nice matte finish. If you make it shiny with higher grits it will always look like shit. There's just no way to polish something squishy like leather higher than that. After your last coat just burnish with beeswax and canvas to bring up the shine.

I only heat the first coat to save time, you can get the same finish without heat though, it just takes more coats. You don't need a fancy tool though, just heat up a spoon or something. Basically you use the heat to slick down the painted fibers on the first coat and make a smoother base for the following coats.

As for burnishing: I think the major factor when it comes to burnishing is having a rounded edge profile. There's no way to achieve a good burnish if you are pressing the edges of leather back into themselves. It will mushroom.

So you need to bevel and sand a rounded edge. Its a pain in the ass and takes a lot of time though. I often don't and just do an acceptable burnish unless I'm trying to pimp something out.

Also, a way to get a good burnish, and one that is totally acceptable is to heat wax into the edge (I use a spoon and an alcohol lamp). Get your edges prepped, use anything to slick it really (water, gum trag, funori, tokonole) then run the heated spoon you touch to wax along the edge and melt it in - then sand. Repeat till you are satisfied. Make sure to polish all the excess wax off though, you are just trying to fill the pores and divots. You should be able to get a great edge quickly that way.

I would appreciate if you kept these techniques on the down low. I am working with a friend on a leathercraft skills guide and some patterns and lessons etc, and don't want to let out all the secrets haha.