Latest Carving project

[Tkleather1]

Here is the first project that I have done with the new tools from Barry King and the first side of Herman oak leather that I have purchased. I am pretty happy with it. as always there are things that I will change next time. This purse will be lined with black 1.5 oz. Swine and have a black chap leather gusset I havent decided what to do for handles yet I would like to do round handles but I dont have a rein rounder so I will have to figure something else out. if you have any suggestions let me know. I should post this in the critique section but I will just tell all of you to let me know what you think so far.

The finish is one light coat of extra virgin olive oil, a day in the sun, two coats of Saddle lac applied with sheepskin (not sprayed) one coat of Feibings sheridan brown antique. I still have to put the final finish on ( one coat of Tan Kote and one coat of Saddle lac)

So have at it and let me know what you think.

Thanks to all Tim

[flyingcuda]

i don't see a pic, don't know if it's my computer or if the pic is not there

[Tkleather1]

youre right they didnt load

Here they are

[leatheroo]

wow, thats nice!!!

[Razz]

Nice work, the color ended up real good.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Razz

[The Major]

Real nice work.

[tab69pr]

great job!

[electrathon]

Overall the tooling is very nice.

Things I would change: Loose the pear shader and get a thumbprint. The pear shader is too wide. It looks like there should have been a turnback on at least one of the lower petals. The flower would look much more three deminsional, not flattened out. The basketweave is sideways, turn it 90 degrees. The next one is where I also have tremendous trouble too, work a lot on your decorative cuts.

I have something posted in floral sarving, interested in your input back too.

Aaron

[Bryan]

Looks beautiful! If you don't mind me asking; what is the purpose of the lengthy finish process? I don't know much at all about finishes & am just curious why all the different products, especialy the olive oil & the sun. I would have guessed the oil would keep the other finishes from penetrating the leather. Or that may be exactly the point.? What ever the reason, it turned out great!

[Tkleather1]

Overall the tooling is very nice.

Things I would change: Loose the pear shader and get a thumbprint. The pear shader is too wide. It looks like there should have been a turnback on at least one of the lower petals. The flower would look much more three deminsional, not flattened out. The basketweave is sideways, turn it 90 degrees. The next one is where I also have tremendous trouble too, work a lot on your decorative cuts.

I have something posted in floral sarving, interested in your input back too.

Aaron

No I agree with almost everything that you have said. you are 100 percent correct about the shader and the cuts I got way out of control. I dont get why you think the basket is wrong, I have done things this way, your way and diagonal so what is wron about it? As for the turnback I have never used one and wouldnt even know where to start, I would appreciate info on this as well. Now I want to make it very clear I am not trying to argue I just dont understand a few things and thank you very much for the input.

Tim

Looks beautiful! If you don't mind me asking; what is the purpose of the lengthy finish process? I don't know much at all about finishes & am just curious why all the different products, especialy the olive oil & the sun. I would have guessed the oil would keep the other finishes from penetrating the leather. Or that may be exactly the point.? What ever the reason, it turned out great!

Some of the guys on here were talking about the sun tanning, and it works you oil it up and put it in the sun and it almost looks tanned. the Saddle lac is for a resist. that way the antiquepaste dosent get on everything just the low portions. the Tankote and the topcoat of Saddle lac are just a finish. I might have overdone it but its the only way I know.

[electrathon]

No I agree with almost everything that you have said. you are 100 percent correct about the shader and the cuts I got way out of control. I dont get why you think the basket is wrong, I have done things this way, your way and diagonal so what is wron about it? As for the turnback I have never used one and wouldnt even know where to start, I would appreciate info on this as well. Now I want to make it very clear I am not trying to argue I just dont understand a few things and thank you very much for the input.

Tim

The reason I would have turned the basket weave is that a basket is normally "woven" with the straight fibers going up from the bottom. The sides are then twisted in as you go around the basket. The way your pattern is laying is not the natural direction for a basket. Many leather patterns the basket is laying at a diagional, so there are a lot of rules broken when doing it, but your purse design could have actually been done as a real basket weave. When I looked at it, the first thing I thought is, "the weave is not correct for a real basket". If it is the effect you were looking for, then it is not wrong.

Not taking anything as an argument. Personally I prefer people to point out issues. Then it is up to you (or me) to decide is there is a better way. I am very much still learning too. Chan Geer and Pete Gorrel (sp?) both have told me I am horrible at decorite cuts. I am better at them than I used to be, but still really struggle with them.

Look at my "wallet" post for the answer to the turnback question.

Aaron

[Bryan]

Tim, thanks a lot for the info on your finish. Very interesting!

[Tkleather1]

The reason I would have turned the basket weave is that a basket is normally "woven" with the straight fibers going up from the bottom. The sides are then twisted in as you go around the basket. The way your pattern is laying is not the natural direction for a basket. Many leather patterns the basket is laying at a diagional, so there are a lot of rules broken when doing it, but your purse design could have actually been done as a real basket weave. When I looked at it, the first thing I thought is, "the weave is not correct for a real basket". If it is the effect you were looking for, then it is not wrong.

Not taking anything as an argument. Personally I prefer people to point out issues. Then it is up to you (or me) to decide is there is a better way. I am very much still learning too. Chan Geer and Pete Gorrel (sp?) both have told me I am horrible at decorite cuts. I am better at them than I used to be, but still really struggle with them.

Look at my "wallet" post for the answer to the turnback question.

Aaron

Ok now I understand what you are saying. my decorative cuts got way out of hand on this one for sure. I dont know if I do them right or wrong, this forum is the most "training" I have ever had. I too like it when people tell me what to do or not to do i just sometimes dont understand what you are trying to tell me, as again I am pretty much self taught with guidance here and there(mainly here) I thank you all for any info that you have or will give me in the future.

Tim

[Dually]

Tim, in spite of all the obvious flaws {lol} it turned out pretty darn nice. The new tools and better hide were a good investment. Now give me back my modeling tool.

[gcollins]

Tim, Only in my dreams, will i ever be 1/4th that good!! i don't know how you guys get so much 3d effect in your carving, I have watched tapes about carving, and they help, but you guys make every peice look go great, I know it takes practice and practice, and more Practice!

But i can practice for a 100 years and never carve like you all do!

I thank you for showing your fine work, that helps me keep trying!

Greg

[Tkleather1]

well thank you to all I am trying real hard to get better and to find a groove, I am still not even close to 100 percent happy but it is better every day.

And dually I know where you live and I know how to trim on a cinch when needed. You still have that rank little horse up there?

Tim

[TomSwede]

Very nice carving!!

I am curious about the backgrounding on the second pic. Looks like you gone over it with the swivelknife and I like the look of it but wonder what it looks like in closeup so I'd be happy to see that!!

Tom

[Tkleather1]

Very nice carving!!

I am curious about the backgrounding on the second pic. Looks like you gone over it with the swivelknife and I like the look of it but wonder what it looks like in closeup so I'd be happy to see that!!

Tom

Its just a bargrounder. I dont have the tool number but just a plain old bargrounder, that I am having a hell of a time trying to hide the trackmarks. if anyone has any info on that I would sure appreciate any input on how to do that you can pick out every dang impression and the guys who run it real good can make it look like the used one tool and a good wack and its all filled in if that makes sense.

But thanks for the kind word tom and good luck on the drag bike seat

Tim

[Tkleather1]

Here is the finished product. Sorry that it took me so long to post. if you have anything that you can help me with let me know. I know that the Decorative cuts are too much and the Handles arent the best I am still working on it. I need a rounder I just dont have one yet. they are getting a little better each time but not fast enough. Let me know what you all think. the gusset is 4/5oz chap leather from Hide House.

Thanks

Tim

[TomSwede]

Finished purse is looking good Tim!!

I like the handles, black with white stitches looks good against natural leather.

Backgrounding is tricky. I keep my leather not too moist when I do it. Reason for this is that if it is too moist the mass of the leather will be pushed around and then it is hard to get the background smooth and even. I use light taps with my wooden club on the punch and overlap prevoius stamp. After I completed the whole area I look over it and try to (very carefully) try to smooth out any choppy looking areas. Sometimes I'm very happy with my backgrounding and sometimes it seems hard to achieve a totally smooth surface. I think possibly the leather itself and how it takes the tooling matters too.

I allways bevel around conturs with a normal checkered beveler before doing backgrounding and when doing the backgrounding I tilt the backgrounder so that the background is not pushed up against the contours and distorts the impression of a good relief effect.

Hope this is understandable, kinda hard to explain in the very few minutes I have available at the moment;-)

Nice job on the purse, I really like it!!

Tom

[Dually]

Look at you...all growed up and carving good. That turned out real nice TK. My compliments to ya.

[Tkleather1]

Well thanks tom I also have been beveling everything but I think that the moisture content was too high on this when I tooled it. Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks dually I am trying to get better everytime but sometimes I feel like I go backwards.

Tim

[lilrays]

Very cool lookin' . . . both the color and design work very well together. Keep up the great work!