Tooling help for a long time newb

[mikesherman]

O.K...I know this will seem like a lame question, but I have to ask. What tool should one hold a stamp with when tooling, say if you're a right hander? I've been at this leatherworking thing for about ten years; today, while practicing a border pattern for a holster, I got tired as usual. Rather than my normal pattern of taking a break, eating something, playing video games, etc., I just decided to switch hands. Although a bit awkward, I found that in a short time I was adjusting and the work was going smoother.

I'm a righty, and I learned to hold the tool with my left hand and strike with my right. Maybe a holdover from pounding nails...but my left hand is stupid, and my right is the weaker of the two. When I switched hands, I found it was easier and quicker to align the stamps with my right hand, and with a bit of practice I'm sure I could actually hit the d*** thing left handed once or twice before whacking my hand, the tv, or my kids car in Ohio...I also find it quite a bit easier to see this way, but I'm not yet sure why that is.

Anyways, I've searched all over for "how to hold stamps when tooling" but all I get is a bunch of ads for tool boxes, rolls, etc. So I'm just wondering..have I been doing it wrong all these years? Maybe that's why I've found it so difficult to progress? And most importantly, how do you all do it? Tips, comments, suggestions please anyone...Thanks much!

[DJole]

Seems to me that the only answer to this question is this: if this makes the tooling better for you, then "switch-hitting" is fine. 
As a right-hander, I have metal tool in left hand, and mallet in the right, and it seems to go fine. Then again, I've played the violin for years, and so perhaps my left hand is used to finesse work.

[cjartist]

Interesting question and one that I have never considered.  Since I use the swivel knife in my right hand, it just seemed natural for me to use my right for the mallet.  I can see how the control might be better if it was switched, especially for beveling.  I may just have to try to that

[MendellLeatherOK]

I am the same as above. Tool in the left and mallet in the right. At times, such as stamping a border, I actually find it easier to stamp from left to right instead of the usual right to left. Its easier to align my stams and I feel like I can go quicker.

[tdiller]

On 8/4/2017 at 3:30 PM, mikesherman said:

O.K...I know this will seem like a lame question, but I have to ask. What tool should one hold a stamp with when tooling, say if you're a right hander? I've been at this leatherworking thing for about ten years; today, while practicing a border pattern for a holster, I got tired as usual. Rather than my normal pattern of taking a break, eating something, playing video games, etc., I just decided to switch hands. Although a bit awkward, I found that in a short time I was adjusting and the work was going smoother.

I'm a righty, and I learned to hold the tool with my left hand and strike with my right. Maybe a holdover from pounding nails...but my left hand is stupid, and my right is the weaker of the two. When I switched hands, I found it was easier and quicker to align the stamps with my right hand, and with a bit of practice I'm sure I could actually hit the d*** thing left handed once or twice before whacking my hand, the tv, or my kids car in Ohio...I also find it quite a bit easier to see this way, but I'm not yet sure why that is.

Anyways, I've searched all over for "how to hold stamps when tooling" but all I get is a bunch of ads for tool boxes, rolls, etc. So I'm just wondering..have I been doing it wrong all these years? Maybe that's why I've found it so difficult to progress? And most importantly, how do you all do it? Tips, comments, suggestions please anyone...Thanks much!

I learned or forced myself to use either hand. At 14 I broke my right arm and had to learn to write (cursive) with my left hand. From that point on it became kind of a game between my brother and I to try to do everything opposite handed. Throwing, batting, writing, you name it we forced ourselves to become good at using either hand.  I mess up people when I am writing especially in an conference room on a white board because I will switch hands without thinking about it.  Those who catch it often ask me about it.  I find that some things when working on leather are easier for my dominant (right) hand and others can be done with either. Stamping is either hand. Knife work because my fine motor skills are better with my right hand are easier that way.  I have tried some knife work on scrap leather with my left hand and would need a lot more practice before I would do anything  I intended to keep.

Edited December 19, 2017 by tdiller