Starter

[Clintock]

Kinda searched around but to no avail. Really want to get into Sheridan carving but I'm lost. Is there a starter kit one could buy or do you have to buy everything separate? What all would one need? Or sizes? really don't have the budget to go buy 20 different stamps at 10 to 20 bucks each. Seems like one could have thousands invested in tools before he/she sold one item. Any info would be a great help!

[Sofaspud]

I haven't tried Sheridan  yet myself, but I saw that Barry King offers groups of suggested stamps for sale at a fairly substantial discount. I  also seem to remember that there is a Gomph starter set advertised on Slickbald's website. 

[Clintock]

Thanks! I ran across BK set but just can't justify that much for starting out. I've a acquired a few stamps so far. I think around 26. Several beveler sand pear shaders of different sizes. A couple of seeders and a couple of backgrounders. Most of which came from e bay. A swivel knife from zelistiv? (One of the sponsors on here). And several blades for it. Here's my first ever carving. When I didn't have but a 3 or 4 tools. The bottom left rose is on I tried with a filigree blade. The rest were done with straight 3:8 blade. I see lots of flaws but from afar not to bad. Could've went back over the outer bevel for sure to smooth out tool marks. Appreciate your response. 

[AZNightwolf]

I'm new to this but I'd be very happy if something I carved came out like that. Great start. I like the veiner dots on the edges of the leaves

[JLSleather]

Well -- good news - you have room for improvement

You don't have to double up the mortgage to get some doable tools, despite much of the advertising ("marketing") that goes on.  I use craftools entirely, and seem to get by.  I have seen some other brands which I think might be worth having - but really only the geometric stamps where the impression is not "walked" and needs to be crisp and clean from a straight-in bop (we're talking basket weave stamps, border stamps, etc.).

The general "rule", if it's in the front (foreground), then bevel away from it (outside of it).  Roses are a bit unique, in the way they are done - though the idea is the same.  For ANYONE, not just those of us on a budget, I recommend a copy of stohlman's "tech tips" book.  And I'm the last one to say go get a book, but that one really is that good, and will give you a solid start on tooling.

This one can be done with a 368 "shader", a 936 beveler, a 198 beveler, and a 104 background tool.

As you may have heard already, the older stamps are better than what is currently on the shelves at tandy stores.  Check ebay.. always some listed there.  If you can find the ones you need, expect to pay $2- $4 each.

 

This wallet can be done with the same tools, and adding a small "stop" tool and a "veiner".

[Clintock]

Thanks @AZNightwolf. Didn't take long to do at all as you can tell by the mistakes. Too many to name. I still have a lot of practice to go. 

@JLSleather there's always room to improve. Doesn't matter how long you've been any particular craft or trade. I wasn't too happy with those results. Pear shader I had at the time was too big and really didn't know where to begin on tooling. Or even how. Wish I could old tools from 2-4 bucks each. I paid 5-7 free shipping of course for what I have. Out of the 27 I have now I think 3 are made in China and the rest are older craft tool or newer craft tool brand. And btw  those are some very nice carvings!!

 

Heres something else else that I took a little more time on. Still have to make myself slow down. Feel like I'm in a race against the leather drying out too much while tooling. Guess that'll come with time. Critique it too Jeff. I know the border shouldn't have been "beveled" but tried to go over with a small "spoon". Still have to order a few stylus and modeling spoons. Speaking of budget... Small town. Small pay. 

Edited May 5, 2017 by Clintock

[JLSleather]

It's a little dark to tell really.  Personally I don't mind the "extra" border, or "halo" around your design.  The mid-section of the leaves is a bit different than we're used to seeing.

With the "shader", basically a matter of "bop where it should be low" might work.  Tooling isn't difficult, and I think some people actually mess themselves up by looking at too many tooling patterns, or tooled items, instead of the flower or scroll that it's supposed to represent (which often results in over-tooling the design).

The dark color and the basket stamp, together with teh "halo", give this project a bit of an "engraved" look that actually works. Just my take..

[Clintock]

Lol. Bop where it's sposed to be low. Think my swivel knife skill kinda cut the leaves a different shape than they were supposed to be so that might be one thing. Then I I beveled around the foremost leaves. Reckon I might just hafta to pick up that book you were talking about. 

[alpha2]

Well, the difference between that and the first picture, is exponential. The pear shaders is pretty good. Try to use different levels of decorative cuts, a central strong one, and a couple of lighter ones on either side. Always follow the flow of the flower, no straight lines. They should all follow a curve to the center of the item. GREAT improvement!

[Clintock]

Still got a long way to go. May not help that the swivel knife I bought has two different bevels on the blade. Is that normal?

[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?