Heading To Tandy Tomorrow - But Need Advise. Want To Make Carved Collars.

[meagain]

No I didn't sharpen/hone the blade. Was figuring for $55 bucks (on sale from $70) it would be good enough initially out of the box I did practice with wetting the leather and learned too wet is a very bad thing! I tried with different degrees of damp and I 'think' I was in the proper realm. It seemed 'smooth' flowing but just not wide enough or 'pretty'?

If you all think the BK knife/blade is better - I'll return this one and get that.

[barehandcustoms]

I wouldn't use rivets to secure the hardware for those dog collars unless its for a small dog. Large dogs are very rough on their collars overtime and rivets tend to bust when they get yanked on a lot. I would use Chicago Screws to secure all the hardware.

[meagain]

They won't be daily 24/7 wearing collars - just for walking/visiting (being with owner). Will be for Sighthounds - around 40-60 pounds. They have long skinny necks so they wear wide collars and are pretty calm/docile types. Was thinking at least 3 rivets to secure 2 D-rings as the only hardware. Well - I'll look into it but I'm not at that point yet. First need the right tools.

Maybe I should just spring for one of the BK 'kits' and be done with it. Hopefully at most get 1-2 more tools like the pebble backgrounder. IF I go crazy and buy that - I assume the Sm-Med 'kit' the way to go?

[papaw]

One other thing do you have the blade all the way in the leather or are you just cutting on the back edge of the blade? The other thing is are you cutting deep enough?

[Northmount]

Sharpen the blade.

There are lots of posts about sharpening swivel knives here and the amount of difference it makes to ease of cutting. You can always buy additional blades later from whomever you want; different widths, angled. But you really need to learn to sharpen and hone and strop your blade, regardless of the manufacturer. Yes some do come sharp, and some stay sharp longer, but not forever. If the rest of the knife fits your hand and is comfortable, doesn't cut into your finger, then it is good and no need to return it.

Tom

[meagain]

Yes I need to get the stuff to hone the blade but I think this barrel diameter (1/2") is too big for my smaller female hands. I've not used it much and my gut is telling me to get a 3/8" from BK. Assuming I do that - I'm still conflicted on blade 'thickness'.

For decorative cuts - wouldn't one want a thicker blade? Or - would anyone know the difference between the Craftool Pro 3/8" blade thickness vs. the thick or thin Barry King blades so I can compare? This is my last sticking point. And yes, I'm going to buy the 'kit' from BK (sm-med toolset). I have no doubt I'll get into this in a serious way at this point.

[papaw]

I always tell people that are on the fence so to speak call and talk to Barry about what you wish to carve. just my .02

[meagain]

OK - I did. He says most people get the thin blade. Hopefully we were on the same page re thin vs. thick blade and not glad width I was a bit surprised by this and asked 'wouldn't the thicker blade produce nice decorative cuts vs. the smaller?' I don't recall what he said about that.

I guess I want to rely on the knife alone for some decorative lines that won't be beveled. He wasn't sure how wide the blade is that I tried (craftool pro 3/8") so I can't really compare. So I'm still a tad lost and perhaps I should get 2 blades.

There isn't much talk on here re the 2 blade thicknesses he sells and I can't find any comparison of the basic lines they make. IDK

[camano ridge]

Go with one blade for now you can always get the thicker one later if you need to. You will find that technique can help you get different width cuts with the same blade. If you need to widen a cut use, the pointy tip of a modeling tool.

[silverwingit]

Meagain - I have a bit of a different idea for you to consider regarding swivel knives and blades.

You are concerned about the diameter of the barrel and the differences between blades. I think that out of inexperience you are over analyzing.

Here's something that no one has yet mentioned. A given swivel knife barrel size is chosen according to more than how comfortable it is holding it in your hand. The different barrel sizes have different uses. A large barrel diameter is best for long, more or less straight cuts. This is because larger diameter barrels are less sensitive to small twists between your fingers and hence it is more difficult to make rapid changes in the angle of their path, as one must roll the barrel the circumference of the barrel to execute a 360 degree turn. Smaller barrels require less of a twist between your fingers to undergo the same angular change. In practical terms, this means as I said that larger diameter barrels are best for long, relatively straight cuts, where smaller diameter barrels are best for shorter cuts that undergo quick changes in the angle of their path. As examples, I use my 1/2" barrel for straight cuts, say at the borders of a belt, and my 3/8" barrel for decorative cuts that have that quick 180 degree "fish hook" turn. You can also experiment with the different width blades and see the difference in performance between thin and thick, straight and angled blades.

The bottom line: BK swivel knives are inexpensive and so are BK swivel knife blades. You are dropping $400 on carving tools. Why not get several knives and blades? You will experience the effects of barrel size for yourself and be able to make intelligent decisions about which to use for a given cut (cuts). After all, the quality of your carving starts with and is largely dependent on good swivel knife cuts.

You will end up having separate barrels for each of the blades you like to use frequently so that you don't have to change blades constantly.

One last note. Many experienced leather carvers recommend learning to use a wide blade first, even a 1/2" one. One can pick up bad habits using a narrow straight or especially a narrow, slanted blade. In learning to use a wider, straight blade, you develop good habits that will reap benefits down stream.

At least that's the way I see it.

Michelle