Knocked some tooling marks in some leather....make it better?

[YinTx]

So, finally decided to start making a sheath for my round knife... using some so so uneven pieces of chunky leather, which is why it isn't all cut nice etc...figured what the heck, I'd try my hand at tooling and knock some marks in the leather.... Looks kinda sad in a way, not even, etc., so totally open to comments, suggestions, critics, etc to make it better next time around... 

YinTx

[plinkercases]

I was taught that as you approach a corner you place a stamp in the corner then finesse the spacing towards it so you don't end up with a gap or crashing into the corner.

I use a wing divider to work out how to get there gracefully from about 4-5 stamps out depending on the width of the stamp.

Otherwise keep on banging things into the leather and you get better as you go assuming you keep track of your mistakes and corrective actions.... I have to forget some mistakes a few times before I remember it seems.

[YinTx]

Heh, yeah that gap really made me cringe, but there it is in all it's glory.  I like the wing divider method.. I'll give it a try next time...

YinTx

second time around, I think I got it a bit closer...

 

[plinkercases]

it always a challenge and I marvel at some of the work here and assume they have developed some real layout voodoo so they always hit the corners perfectly. Hope some one chimes in here....

I also found that if I use the divider to space out where to actual put the corner when the layout and project permit then it is always spot on...cant always do that though.

[RockyAussie]

Next time remember the taco shell square bottom idea. A base on your bench and 2just drop it in.

[YinTx]

Rocky,

You lost me... taco shell square bottom?  I think I need a picture again, lol.

Now I need to figure out what to do next.. I haven't a clue, lol.. . I think some neetsfoot.. then something about resist.. and dye.. and antique gel?  Off to read some stuff on that and learn new stuff, lol.  Cheers!

YinTx

[YinTx]

Well, its functional anyhow.  Used some CS Osborne thread, very heavy, I must say I kind of liked it.  Another first, stitching something so thick.  3 layers of ~12 oz  leather taught me a whole new level of awl control!  The fact that it was stretchy belly leather didn't help matters much either.  I didn't like the plasticy look that the Angelus High Gloss Acrylic finisher gave it, but that was the only thing I had on hand that I thought would work as a resist... perhaps I'd have been better off with tan kote or bag kote, I don't know.  I do know it was no good resisting the Fiebengs Oil dye, but worked well resisting the Angelus Black acrylic antique.  Also learned not to mark in the stitch lines until after antiquing, because those lines will turn black!  My oil dye also seems to have become super concentrated, I think it evaporated, certainly not the 75% reduction I had in the bottle...  but all in all, I can use it.  Still, this was a first, so please throw out some helpful comments!  Thanks!

 

YinTx

[Tugadude]

Would look good with your initials in the center.  Nice job.

[neilyeag]

I like the colors the way they turned out.  I am far from an expert, but with this kind of a shape, I try to start at the bottom middle of the "smile" and work all the way to the top edge.  Then start in the middle of the top and work left, then right to the end.  The last stamp would be the one that fades away.  Kind agree with @Tugadude, maybe it would benefit with another element in the center.  But it is nice and functional and that is the real test.

[RockyAussie]

On 07/10/2016 at 9:30 AM, YinTx said:

Rocky,

You lost me... taco shell square bottom?  I think I need a picture again, lol.

Now I need to figure out what to do next.. I haven't a clue, lol.. . I think some neetsfoot.. then something about resist.. and dye.. and antique gel?  Off to read some stuff on that and learn new stuff, lol.  Cheers!

YinTx

Hey I would have thought that with such a dangerous easy to cut yourself knife that there would have been something out there to hold and store your knife while your working with it back and forth. Googled head knife stand etc and see what come up. For safety sake can't we come up with something better?