I really want to know before I buy more!!!!

[pete]

After years of floral and then Sheridan tooling I have come to 2 conclusions.

1-better tools (Bob Beard etc) make for a better finished look- ALTHOUGH the craftool sheridan bevelers work really well!

and

2- I can't tell the difference between sheridan(steep) and regular smooth bevelers if I'm going to background it all anyway.

Before I buy more- does it matter what you bevel with if you are going to background????????

I think that it is easier to use smooth reg bevelers as they come in all sizes and tight fits aren't a problem.

[kseidel]

Pete,

The biggest difference in smooth and checkered bevelers is in the finishing. The checkered bevelers hold some of the antique finish and give more shading. As far as the background goes, there are lots of beveled lines that do not relate to the background. You do not have to bevel any lines that are around background if you do not want. It only makes the backgrounding easier.

The angle of the bevelers has more affect relative to the thickness of leather and the depth of your tooling, and the desired final look. Many of the new "steep" bevelers are too steep and tend to tear the leather.

Keith

[pete]

Pete,

The biggest difference in smooth and checkered bevelers is in the finishing. The checkered bevelers hold some of the antique finish and give more shading. As far as the background goes, there are lots of beveled lines that do not relate to the background. You do not have to bevel any lines that are around background if you do not want. It only makes the backgrounding easier.

The angle of the bevelers has more affect relative to the thickness of leather and the depth of your tooling, and the desired final look. Many of the new "steep" bevelers are too steep and tend to tear the leather.

Keith

Is there ever a time when you simply cut and then background without beveling first (ie. all of the normally bar gounded,pebbled,A14 etc areas)?

[kseidel]

Is there ever a time when you simply cut and then background without beveling first (ie. all of the normally bar gounded, pebbled,A14 etc areas)?

Now you are making me remember the old days! Many years ago I did the background right after cutting, mostly matted background then. Shortly after switching to bar background, I decided that I did not like the background being stamped down by following tools ie: beveler, undercut, etc. Also the bar background works better when nearly dry, so lent itself to all around better results being last. I only bevel the long stem cuts, seldom the shorter top of the stem cut, and sometimes not far into the background space.

Keith

[pete]

Now you are making me remember the old days! Many years ago I did the background right after cutting, mostly matted background then. Shortly after switching to bar background, I decided that I did not like the background being stamped down by following tools ie: beveler, undercut, etc. Also the bar background works better when nearly dry, so lent itself to all around better results being last. I only bevel the long stem cuts, seldom the shorter top of the stem cut, and sometimes not far into the background space.

Keith

sorry to be "slow" ... but do you bevel the borders inside the design that are to be back grounded later... or do you just bevel the stems and such and background over the "virgin" leather allowing the background tool of choice to flatten it?

pete

[kseidel]

sorry to be "slow" ... but do you bevel the borders inside the design that are to be back grounded later... or do you just bevel the stems and such and background over the "virgin" leather allowing the background tool of choice to flatten it?

pete

Hey Pete,

You are not "slow." I just don't type in pictures! I bevel all around all flowers and leaves, and most of the long lines of the stems, even where there will be background in the adjoining space. However, I usually do not bevel the top cut of the vines and just background down the "virgin" leather, mostly to save the time, although sometimes beveling the short top lines I run into the stem line running thru and then it messes up the pattern. I do find myself outlining the un-beveled cuts with my background and then filling the space... like coloring between the lines. If you like I will post a picture of something at this stage tomorrow.

I hope this is more clear to you than it seems to me.

Keith