Carving, what am I doing wrong?

[Raksha]

This is my second ever swivel knife try, so please be kind. I just can't se to get the knife marks right. What am I doing wrong? Not right saturated? To deep cutting? Wrong punsle tool? 

[YinTx]

What tool are you using for beveling your swivel knife cuts?  I'm thinking that may be an issue for starters...

YinTx

[Sheilajeanne]

1) Make sure your knife is properly sharpened and stropped. A dull knife will stick in the leather

2) The moisture content of the leather could be part of the problem - the knife will stick if the leather is too dry

3) When beveling, the beveler has to go with the edge right in the line you've cut with the swivel knife. You should tilt it a bit so the whole tool face doesn't touch your leather and leave a mark

4) Suggest you check on line for basic leather carving videos that can help show you proper technique. Nothing beats actually seeing someone else do it. This one will give you a good start: 

5) It takes quite a bit of practice to learn how to control the swivel knife. Get a few pieces of scrap leather, and use them to practice on.

Don't give up - anything worth doing takes time to master!  

 

[Raksha]

8 hours ago, YinTx said:

What tool are you using for beveling your swivel knife cuts?  I'm thinking that may be an issue for starters...

YinTx

I use these

 

]

Feels like I can't place them right.

 

7 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

1) Make sure your knife is properly sharpened and stropped. A dull knife will stick in the leather

2) The moisture content of the leather could be part of the problem - the knife will stick if the leather is too dry

3) When beveling, the beveler has to go with the edge right in the line you've cut with the swivel knife. You should tilt it a bit so the whole tool face doesn't touch your leather and leave a mark

4) Suggest you check on line for basic leather carving videos that can help show you proper technique. Nothing beats actually seeing someone else do it. This one will give you a good start: 

5) It takes quite a bit of practice to learn how to control the swivel knife. Get a few pieces of scrap leather, and use them to practice on.

Don't give up - anything worth doing takes time to master!  

 

1. Maybe I need a new blade, I have a cheap knife from ebay. But I do strop it a lot. 

2. Ok, try to give mor moisture :D Use the method in the tandy movie you show, but I think my leather is 3,5 mm
 

3. I try to do that. Must. practice. more.  

4. watch more youtube - noted :D 

5. Practice more! Deal.  

Use only scaps 

 

Edited June 7, 2018 by Raksha

[ABHandmade]

41 minutes ago, Raksha said:

I use these

 

]

 

This set of low-quality Chinese stamps seems to have been created in order to refuse any desire to work with the leather. When last November I decided to try carving for the first time and bought a set of "20 stamps for $ 20" for ignorance, I was extremely upset and thought that my hands were growing from the wrong place. I was particularly disappointed with the bevel.
Only buying a few low-cost but completely fulfilling its function of CRAFT JAPAN stamps saved me from giving up the idea to carving of leather.

Edited June 7, 2018 by ABHandmade

[Raksha]

28 minutes ago, ABHandmade said:

This set of low-quality Chinese stamps seems to have been created in order to refuse any desire to work with the leather. When last November I decided to try carving for the first time and bought a set of "20 stamps for $ 20" for ignorance, I was extremely upset and thought that my hands were growing from the wrong place. I was particularly disappointed with the bevel.
Only buying a few low-cost but completely fulfilling its function of CRAFT JAPAN stamps saved me from giving up the idea to carving of leather.

Oh thanks! Where can I buy them? I can buy som her in norway but the price is about 15 dollars each , and shipping close to 20... I kind of meed to know that it is worth it, leather is an expencive hobby.

[ABHandmade]

9 minutes ago, Raksha said:

Oh thanks! Where can I buy them? I can buy som her in norway but the price is about 15 dollars each , and shipping close to 20... I kind of meed to know that it is worth it, leather is an expencive hobby.

I bought my own from a local Ukrainian reseller. I do not think that there is a sense of recommending it for sale in Norway
In principle, in the same price category and similar quality, you can buy several stamps for starting from Craftool. As a starting point, you can go here https://www.tandyleather.eu/en/category/craftool-stamps-leathercraft.
Probably, the members of the forum-Europeans will be able to offer several more best options.

[Raksha]

Thank you! Guess I just have to use the money on better tools... 

[Raksha]

Are we seeing some improvement? 

I took my multitool and gave my tools a workover and sharper edges.  And moved to a more sturdy work space. Still think I need a better blade for my knife and better tools though. 

Edited June 7, 2018 by Raksha

[ABHandmade]

I was not be too lazy and find Z-B197 from the very Chinese set, from which I tried to start work.
On the photo - on the left Z-B197 (China nameless), on the right B203 (Kyoshin Elle, inexpensive but quite qualitative for his cost tool).
Above the beveling without a cut, below - with a cut. Just compare.
Surely, there are professionals who can use and absolutely horrible tool to do a good job, a super-expensive tool will not make a beginner at once a professional. But a novice using a horrible tool is unlikely to make a masterpiece.