avoiding scratches and nicks while working

[amilcar]

just started in leather working. this is a great place for inspiration. i am having issues with scratches and nicks after i am done with my projects. i move the leather around my work area a ton and everything is done by hand. how does everyones projects look flawless (no scratches or nicks)?  thanks for the help.

[Ferg]

Keep your finger nails cut very short.

Ferg

[chrisash]

Keep the work area very clean and don't move the leather around more than really necessary 

[Gabriel Rasa]

Leather picks up indentations very easily while it's wet, so make sure you're not wearing bracelets/watches/cuffs with buttons while you're working with it. Moving the leather around shouldn't be a problem in itself, but if your workspace is cluttered then your project is likely to brush/scrape against things that will put dents in it. Give yourself a big, uncramped space to work in, so that you can turn the leather without bumping into anything.

You can also buff out minor scratches with the backside of a spoon (or anything else smooth & flat) when you're done tooling.

[immiketoo]

Having a completely clean and smooth surface is imperative.  Also don't bash it about while tooling and like Ferg said, nails short.