New To Carving

[fletch]

Hello all,

I am relatively new to posting my work since I just started a week ago.

The first carving attempt is the Celtic cross. The second is the Sergeant Chevron.

Comments, improvements that you can see from my marks?

Thank you all for this great forum.

[fletch]

59 views and no input? Looks like I am going back to lurking

[Daniel Tyack]

Fletch, I'm pretty new to carving myself but since apparently none of the pros saw this post I'll give it a shot First off that is some bitchin work for only being at this for a week! Bravo!!! You seem to be off to a fine start so just keep at it. Your beveling looks great for a noob and much of your stamping has nice depth to it. You also seem to be able to keep your geometric stamping relatively strait so you must have some natural talent!

You seem to have picked two projects that had a decent bit of detail and it looks like you weren't capable of attaining the fine detail you probably wanted. I'm also quite certain that the circles and large arcs are probably driving you crazy since all the geometric stuff and strait lines and near perfectly executed. I don't have any great advise for those long arcs except to practice long arcs with courage. What I mean by that is don't cut a bit and check, just cut the whole thing in a continual motion.

Here's what I would recommend.

• Above all else, plan your project to have detail you can attain. Some designs may look great blown up but if you are trying to cut it into a key fob, you are screwed.
• Make sure you case your leather properly, it looks like it was a little dry when you were stamping the geometric stuff on the celtic cross background. (Just search LW.net for a good tute)
• Make good deep cuts. It looks like they were a little shallow on the Chevron design.
• Secure your leather to something solid so it doesn't stretch out. You can put blue painters tape on the back of the leather then glue that to a piece of a thick file folder. This will keep the work from stretching out when you stamp it.
• Try to be more consistant in your backgrounding

There are a zillion things we could go over but that should get you a good start.

I'm attaching a Celtic knot design I like for you to mess with. It's detailed enough so you won't get bored but it's still attainable. The entire .jpg is 8.5x11, I made it so if you just hit print it should come out a good size to practice on.

Keep up the good work!

Edited August 18, 2010 by Daniel Tyack

[Daniel Tyack]

187 Views and only one reply from someone who has minimal experience... This post must be cursed!

[fletch]

Heh, maybe.

I cut the Chevron out and stained and tan-kote'd it. Waiting for my camera batteries to charge so I can post it up.

Started another carving of my car :D This will be difficult.

Have another smaller piece of leather that I have planned to do more Celtic carving later.

[terrahyd]

hi Fletch;;

nice work;; bet the sergeant 's patch was a learning thing ???

well done, thanks for sharing them with us .....Doc...

[fletch]

Dyed Chevron with Colt D.A. 38 that will either be sold to my buddy or will have a holster made for it next month :D

[Miett]

I'm a total noob myself (about a week as well) , but it looks like you're off to a good start!

Daniel, you gave great advice. I snagged the patten you posted, if that's okay. Thanks!

[Duke]

question..... did you case your leather? not to point out your faults, but it looks like mine did the first time I tooled. meaning dry leather.I was fotunate enough to have a good teacher, and they taught me to wet my leather thoroughly, and wait for the top grain to return back to the original color, and then to feel the leather with the back of my hand. if it felt cool to the touch, it was ready.when I use my swivel knife, I cut 2/3 of the way though my leather, and swivel the whole pattern at 1 time.when you go back through and start beveling, bevel as deep as your cut.dont rush this job, take your time and learn to walk the beveler.if you are doing it right, you wont see any choppiness in your beveling.If you do, go back over it to remove it.

happy tooling!

[MBOGO]

For first attempts, you look to be on track. I have found that practicing using your cutting knife will pay dividends. Just as practicing drawing circle freehand with a pencil or pen will, when leather tools arn't handy. All that can really be said is practice, practice, practice.