How Do You Get A Smooth Bevel?

[Cyberthrasher]

Nobody has addressed the real issue here! Here's what shows me the exact culprit for you:

"I'm making sure to overlap the tool a bit over the previous impression and doing my best to strike with the same force each time"

Walking a beveler is NOT hit-lift-place-hit-lift-place like with a normal stamping tool. You will get choppy results EVERY time.

Walking a beveler should be more like a jackhammer using your index finger as a shock absorber. Suspend the beveler ever so slightly above your line and TAP it quickly and repeatedly. The spring action from your finger will make it raise back up out of the cut as you're moving it along the line. This should really sound like "taptaptaptaptaptaptaptap" and not "Tap......Tap.......Tap.......Tap". I struggled with it myself at first because nobody had ever seemed to explain the difference to me. Once I got to see a professional beveling their work on video it instantly hit and I fully understood.

[ranchmom77]

Great advice everyone.. Thank you so much!

[treybecca]

Modeling spoons can be your best friends...fix all sorts of issues

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

All the posts have merit, and will help. One last tip, I tend to tilt my bevels ever so slightly towards the direction I am beveling. That way the trailing end of the bevel is slightly up and tends to smooth out the "line" left by the front edge of the bevel. A little practice will serve you well.

Bob

[ranchmom77]

Cyber thrasher you hit it spot on for me.. I watched a video and hadn't realized how fast it actually is! I've been practicing and it's like night and day.. I'm very appreciative of all of you taking the time to help a newbie out!