Starter

[JLSleather]

nope. You want two sides the same length and the same angle.

 

[MendellLeatherOK]

@Clintock this was my most recent piece (finished them yesterday). Watching and buying Don Gonzales patterns (which all of these are) have helped me a TON honestly, the way he tools is similar to the way I tool so it made it so much easier for me to understand some errors I was making. I've got by with Craft Tool stamps and have done just fine, I usually buy them from Springfield Leather, they are a bit more affordable and you can get wholesale pricing.I probably don't use all the tools that are "required" for Sheridan, but you learn to tailor something as your tooling to the way you like it. Like someone mentioned earlier, Barry King has some awesome sets you can buy for a pretty good discount. I have the "Leather Secrets" book by F.O. Baird and it has helped a lot too, as well as, an Al Stohlman book. It also helped tooling a simple flower over and over and over to really get a feel how it was supposed to flow and connect to the vines. I still have a TON of trouble drawing my own patterns, so I buy a lot of patterns and piece them together with others, I think if you can figure out how to draw your own, you'll be moving up in the game for sure. I always try to tool a small practice piece before I start on work for the evening. It helps me to just piddle around and have some fun for a bit so my mind isn't wound up about the way something should look. 

[Norton Custom Leather]

get ahold of Springfield Leather Company, they have the Chan Geer book that is step by step. 

[Clintock]

That's some beautiful work @MendellLeatherOK! If I could carve and tool that well, I'd be happy. Waiting on another knife blade (the other was ruined from the start) and when it comes in I plan on going at it pretty hard. I have a few tools. Somewhere around 25. Bevelers  vieners backgrounders and such. All craft tool or hide master. I think "required" tools are mainly for ease of use as to getting into certain places. But I really don't know. Jus. A noob here. 

Someone told me about leather library and get a couple of al stohlman books to study on. He's a pretty darn good leather worker in my opinion. So I plan on that too sometime this week. Plus they would be e books so I could have wherever I am and have a little down time. Would love to learn how to draw my own someday but that may be a few years down the road. Back in high school I could sketch pretty good. But.... 17-18 years ago so I can barely sharpen a pencil now. 

Thanks for all the info. Really appreciate it. 

[Clintock]

Gave it another go. I can see a difference. What y'all think?