Four passes on every edge

An edge is where three layers of a hide become visible at once. If it is not sealed, it will fray, darken unevenly and eventually crack.

The passes

Sand at 400, then 800. Coat with gum tragacanth. Burnish with a wooden slicker. Wax, burnish again, then leave it alone for a day. Three days of work for a detail nobody notices until it fails.

Why it matters

A cheap wallet and an expensive one look similar on day one. Two years later the difference is almost entirely at the edges.