cut leather thongs

[spudnut]

I just cut out the mother of all leather thongs out of a piece of cowhide.How can I burnish the edge so it doesnt look like a yellow stripe? I also need to know when I use this or other thick leather..What and how is the edge finished?

 

[blacksmithman64]

Top grain or split? If its top grain you can use some stuff called edge dressing and then burnish it, but I don't know if its PC, a non PC way is to color it with a magic marker thats close to the same color. I hardly ever use top grain but on splits I rough up the cut edge with sandpaper or a rasp and drop it in the walnut bath.