Cutting circles

[kaos]

I am new to leather work, actually just started a short course last night. My homework is to get used to the feel of the swivel knife. I have been practicing away most of the day learning some control and I know it comes more and more with practice, practice , practice but I was wondering if anyone has a tip for me on cutting or following a circle. I am finding it fairly difficult, is there a way to hold the tool, some little tip ? Maybe I am expecting to much to soon, but I think I can handle it.

This is the first time I have been to your sight, one of the other students told us about this website so here I am.

Any tips would be appreciated. Oh yes just how much pressure do you put down on the knife, maybe I am pressing down to hard ?

Thanks again.

[SCOUTER]

Hello Kaos, Welcome! I would like to give you my two cents on the swivel knife.

If when you first pick one up and it feels un-natural you are 100% normal! They say that the swivel knife was invented for saddle makers because they could not really turn their work. Here are some tips that might help you.

1- The knife should be SHARP and polished. (Sharpen on a stone and polish (strop) on cardboard with some compound on it) Strop everytime you pick up the knife.

2- A drop of oil where the finger bowl meets the shaft will give a better "feel".

3- For smaller cuts smaller blades...

4- Make sure Leather is cased properly, the "cut" should open right up!

5- Circles are among the hardest of cuts. Unless you are making saddles, don't be afraid to TURN your work to suit you!

6- Remember Practice doesn't make Perfect... Perfect Practice makes Perfect!

Good Luck!

Edited January 24, 2008 by SCOUTER

[TomSwede]

Scouter is spot on.

Curved lines and circles are hardest ones.

Here's a few other pointers i thought of:

Lighting: I have light from all directions so that I can see the outline i'm following. If I get shadow on the line I reposition my work (or lighting) and pick up just were I left off.

My LED foreheadlight is a treasured item, a little weak but never shadowed.

Carving: I think I actually have lesser movement going on with my carvinghand than the other that moves around the leather mainly because (for me) it's very easy to accidentally tilt the knife with to much movement (wich creates undercuts that are nasty when tooling later on) so I have a technique were I kind of drag the leather around the knife.

Also, as pointed out by Scouter, strop the blade properly. I use a piece of scrapleather with compound and with circles/curved lines I strop everytime I have to take the knife off of the leather.

Happy carving!

Tom

[kaos]

Thanks for the help and tips. I am really excited to be learning leather work and I appreciate the input so much and hope you realize what a gift you are giving to others by sharing your knowledge. One question, when you are talking of a " compound", what is it that you are using, and I am guessing that you are meaning moving your knife blade side to side on the cardboard or leather through this compound?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply to me.

K

[TomSwede]

The compound is called Jewelers rouge and is available at Tandys. Go to their page at tdo a search for jewelers and it will come right up.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com

I also received this months tutorial from Painting cow wich dealt alot with carving.

Go there and signup and you will immedietly get access to some online tutorials in PDF format, very nice service from Paul Burnett.

http://www.paintingcow.com/free_lessons_signup.html?

Good luck on your journeys in leatherland Kaos!

Tom

[Brandon]

Use a template! Anything that is round you find in your house.

Cups,glasses, lids, the last chip that you kept from the casino, DVD,VCD etc..................

[kaos]

Okay will do ! I guess start with larger circles and then bring them in smaller and smaller as you gain control of the knife.

Thanks for the painting cow info, I saw that on a message here and signed up and downloaded the lessons right away. I will be frequenting that website. Again I think it is just so giving of the people that are willing to share their knowledge like that. The saddlemaker we are taking lessons from now too, he has been making saddles for some 30 odd years and is now offering his knowledge to interested people. I think alot of the time there is not enough credit given where it should be, things are taken for granted.

The saddlemaker that is teaching the course, had rouge there when he showed us how he sharpened his knives on a wheel, he put the rouge on as he sharpened.

Right now I am just practicing cuts, we are awaiting our basic beginner kits to come in and then I can practice beveling etc at home. We got to use some of his tools last week to feel them out.

Man ! there sure is some beautiful leather work out there that people do

Thanks again for the info, gotta go practice, but I'm sure " I'll be back"

K

[MikeG]

Welcome! I'm pretty new to the leatherwork, too; but I have learned one thing, and that is how to sharpen tools. I signed up for my first leatherworking class and before I went I sharpened all my tools. When I was trying to cut out a pattern, the instructor said "You look like you're having trouble, can I see your knife?" I handed him my knife and he said "this is horrible, do you mind if I sharpen it?"

Anyway, I discovered at that first class that if you are going to do leatherwork, your tools have to be surgically sharp. Now I even sharpen new scalpel blades. Sharp tools are a joy to use, just keep your fingers out of the way!

Have fun and enjoy the learning process! Looking forward to seeing your work on the board!