Still trying to learn carving.

[gregintenn]

I'm having a rough time trying to get accustomed to the swivel knife. Making smooth arcs seems to be the toughest part. I do feel like I'm getting a bit better with practice, so that's something, but as you can see, I have a long way to go.

 

Those of you who are good at it certainly have my respect and admiration!

Edited February 18, 2023 by gregintenn

[Goldshot Ron]

Greg,

I like your lacing, and it appears that you have holster design down.  An instructor in a class told us to work on making "s"s and "c"s.  Start by burying the tip of the blade, and make an "s" as you gradually lighten up on the pressure and feather out you cut.  It looks like you are applying too much pressure with your blade, thus your wrist and hand locks up.  Also, are you practicing on paper first to save on leather?  

Good luck, Ron

[gregintenn]

30 minutes ago, Goldshot Ron said:

Greg,

I like your lacing, and it appears that you have holster design down.  An instructor in a class told us to work on making "s"s and "c"s.  Start by burying the tip of the blade, and make an "s" as you gradually lighten up on the pressure and feather out you cut.  It looks like you are applying too much pressure with your blade, thus your wrist and hand locks up.  Also, are you practicing on paper first to save on leather?  

Good luck, Ron

Many thanks for the advice, sir. I’ve been told the same about my writing when in grade school. Apparently I hold the pencil too tight. I’ll try to work on that.

[Klara]

7 hours ago, Goldshot Ron said:

Also, are you practicing on paper first to save on leather?  

Do you mean, cutting paper with the swivel knife? That's something I never thought of (I still have "never use sewing scissors on paper, it will blunt them " in the back of my head, even though a knife smith has told me that's mostly bs). Do you use paper on a cutting map or cardbord and cut only partway through? 

[TomE]

I'm starting to tool leather again after a 45 yr hiatus so I understand about the knife feeling awkward.  I would make sure your knife is sharp and polished, and check out the pinned post by @hidepounder about casing leather.

 

[gregintenn]

I appreciate the advice, TomE. It’s starting to look like getting my knife sharp is half the battle.

[Goldshot Ron]

This is for Klara's sake: draw with a pencil on paper your designs to feel the flow.  You are able to erase and save leather at the same time.  A sharp blade in a swivel knife is always a given, so I do not give advise expecting that people are still in kindergarten.  If you are trying to tool leather, you should know how to case it; and, Bob Parks example above is worthless.  Everyone has an opinion, and my advise above is from a class that I had with Al Gould, a Master Saddle Maker and Leather Artist.  When practicing with the swivel knife (ON LEATHER, Klara) I have seen people use a damp sponge, a spray bottle (with H2O), and a number of other methods that worked for them to case or moisten the leather.  Greg, you need to obtain a good instructional book or video to show you some examples of using the swivel knife.  Also, if you can't draw a pattern on your own, copy from someone you respect. And, Practice, practice, practice.

[gregintenn]

35 minutes ago, Goldshot Ron said:

This is for Klara's sake: draw with a pencil on paper your designs to feel the flow.  You are able to erase and save leather at the same time.  A sharp blade in a swivel knife is always a given, so I do not give advise expecting that people are still in kindergarten.  If you are trying to tool leather, you should know how to case it; and, Bob Parks example above is worthless.  Everyone has an opinion, and my advise above is from a class that I had with Al Gould, a Master Saddle Maker and Leather Artist.  When practicing with the swivel knife (ON LEATHER, Klara) I have seen people use a damp sponge, a spray bottle (with H2O), and a number of other methods that worked for them to case or moisten the leather.  Greg, you need to obtain a good instructional book or video to show you some examples of using the swivel knife.  Also, if you can't draw a pattern on your own, copy from someone you respect. And, Practice, practice, practice.

Many thanks for the advice.

[Klara]

@Goldshot Ron  Thanks, I had misunderstood.

[Tim Schroeder]

8 hours ago, gregintenn said:

Bob Parks example above is worthless

@gregintennI think the leather was still too wet when you tooled it. I use Bob Parks way of casing and tend to get pretty results from his worthless method. I have been thru this discussion before was put in my place by somebody who uses the other method. I was TOLD here on this forum there is more than one way to skin a cat. (case leather) I'm not a master tooler like the guy who put me in my place who had been tooling saddles for 1000 yrs. So I tried the other way for myself and do not get the same results. If I could slap a little water on the leather and then let it dry a little while and go to tooling, I would use that method. I run my leather thru a sink or bathtub full of water until I quit hearing that noise. (if the bubbles quit coming out you might have gone too far, but it wouldn't make any difference anyway, just have to waite longer before starting) then lay it on my tooling bench and spray with a water bottle until it just starts to puddle, let it sit for 20 minutes then lay a piece of glass on it overnight. Piece of plastic works just as well because the water around the edge tends to seal off the edges.  I let my leather dry until I can lay my paper tracing pattern on the leather and then put a piece of glass on it for a couple of minutes to keep the paper from wrinkling. I don't do a lot of tooling like a lot of people on this forum, just the occasional piece, but in 10 yrs since I started using Bob Parks method I have never gone thru the paper. If that's happening the leather is still too wet. Mushy with no color means the leather was still too wet. 

So, yes there is more than one way to case leather. My advice is based on my own experiences and not what somebody TOLD me. Just remember what all our OPINIONS are like. MINE is no different. You have to experiment for yourself to see what works for you.