Beveling cut lines

[Pappys Leather]

This is a dumb question so be nice. I have been doing leather work for a while. But I still have problems beveling my cut lines. I see others moving the beveler along the line as they are hitting it. What am I doing wrong? I have to move then hit it. Doesn't always create a nice smooth bevel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gezzer]

What works for me is to tip the beveler back to me and move it about 1/2 of its width . By tipping it back you create a slope away from you and by just using 1/2  the width I can " walk " it pretty good .  Hope that helps

[Hags]

Yeah that. I also hold the tool so it is just barely touching the groove. I tool about as far as i can comfortably reach, then stop and move. I also have a denim bag about 2" around and 4" long that I set next to the line I'm beveling and rest my hand on that. It gets me up off the work a bit. Seems to make it easier. 

[bruce johnson]

Another factor is your stamp. They should taper up on the ends and not be squared off. That way you can float them in the cutline as Hags described and slide them along without the ends digging in or leaving chatter marks. 

[DJole]

I find it useful to think of my hand as a "spring" when beveling a line. My fingers are holding the beveler lightly, just touching the line and the leather surface.
The mallet strike pushes the beveler down, but my fingers "spring" the beveler back up. It's not a big movement, but enough to make the sliding easier. It also creates less fatigue in the fingers.

 

[Pappys Leather]

Thank you for your comments. I will do some practicing find what works for me.