More practice. Belt blank

[Stetson912]

Thanks Rockoboy, It actually is a veiner. Just a thin lined veiner though. I also didn't strike it very hard because it's really easy to over do it with that veiner and sail right to the middle of the leather. That's just more practice on my part though. I'm thinking of giving it one more try today. My bar grounding is terrible haha

[Rockoboy]

5 hours ago, Stetson912 said:

It actually is a veiner. Just a thin lined veiner though

My bad. The 'usual veiner' that I see here, and the veiners that I have are more curved than yours appears to be, plus the textured finish of the 'usual veiner' is more viaually appealing, IMHO. Not withstanding that, you have done a good job with the veiner you have used. 

[alpha2]

Your curves are getting a lot better, very quickly! Much smoother now.

Jeff

[Stetson912]

Thanks guys. I'm still working on the little leaves of the scrolls getting those smooth and less choppy.

@Rockoboy I like the scalloped veiner too, I just don't have one that is any good. :/ I will get one one day. I'm using craftool pro stamps that were on super sale because they are being discontinued. I wanted something intermediate to get the use of the tools down before I invest heavily in better tools. So I'm making due for the time being haha.

[JLSleather]

Looks and sounds like you have a pretty good grasp on what's happening -- making good progress and seeing YOURSELF where there's room for improvement.  And there IS improvement, looking "smoother".

Two points to consider for the future that may be helpful - not just for you but everybody:

I don't like the design so much, in teh way it ends.  Repeating that pattern - as many belts do - would leave a MONSTER background area to the right of the flower, that I would prob'ly alter. and,

for those who love to preach "custom" work and "handmade" and "one at a time" and "by hand" and "no machine"... ask them for one with the design reversed.  You'll often find they aren't as "custom" as they claimed.  For instance, 

A guy who makes this "by hand', "one at a time", with "no machines", ... 

 

SHOULD HAVE no trouble at all making this the same way - by hand, one at a time, no machines.  No more or no less custom this way, right?

[Stetson912]

@JLSleather, I agree with both those points. As for now I'm just trying to get the tooling aspect down. But, maybe I should try to draw up and tool a pattern myself. I'm not good at drawing but I might be able to manage haha. 

[kseidel]

You are gettin the idea!  Much improvement in your working toward a purpose.  Keep practicing.  Work on mastering each tool.  It is okay (and even preferred) to copy other toolers work until you are able to make yours look like theirs.  You will learn to draw your own patterns as you gain experience working with other established patterns.  Keep up the GOOD WORK!

[Stetson912]

Thanks kseidl. I'll keep practicing for sure haha.