Carving, what am I doing wrong?

[Sheilajeanne]

That's because I had trouble finding the right picture! I've found it and posted it now. And yeah, I fully understand what you said about not telling your other half!!   I've spent a ridiculous amount of money on this hobby!

The hammer that comes with that kit is a piece of junk. I used it as kindling in my woodstove, and replaced it with the one you see in the above photo. That and the stamp with the defect on its face were the only things in the kit that I can complain about. 

The kit came with 8 weeks of free lessons, and by the time the 8 weeks was up, I was completely hooked on leatherworking.

 

Edited June 14, 2018 by Sheilajeanne

[Raksha]

 Just a few...  I, of course, have a cheap ebay hammer, so I'll give it a try   Can't spend more money now... Just cant!   

 

 

[Northmount]

Generally in this hobby/business, we call these mallets rather than hammers.  Hammer "implies" a steel head which should not be used on leather stamps.

Poly mallets are fairly light weight, rawhide may be heavier depending on which size you buy.  They have quite a different feel to them.  When I started tooling in 1961, I used a wooden mallet that my grandfather had made.  As you beat it, little wood fibers start to flake off the face and get trapped in your tooling if not careful.  But that is what I could afford, and used for many years. I kept one face clean for other work and just beatup the other face.  Had to shave a bit off now and then to reduce the hollow in the centre of the face.

I prefer the rawhide mallet.  Still have the wood mallet.

Tom

[zfcjr67]

One item I noticed - on the first picture you didn't have your beveler in the swivel knife cut.  Look around the ears, you can see the knife cut and the beveler marks outside of the cut.  The second image you showed had the bevel marks in the cut, which is where they should be.  

Whenever you have a knife cut, make sure to use the beveler in the cut.  Think of it as a line you make to show you where to make a smooth bevel.  It takes practice to get the beveling right.  

Also, you can clean and smooth the beveled edges with a modeling spoon.  

[Raksha]

I got my basic kit to day, and wow! What a difference in both the knife and the tools  need to practice much more,  but this helps! 

[Raksha]

Stupid question, but what hand for what? I am right handed, but can use left for just about everything except writing. Mallet in left and tool in right? Or tool in left and mallet in right? 

[Sheilajeanne]

So glad to hear it!  Looking forward to seeing your new work!

As for your question, I am a lefty, and use the mallet in my right hand and the stamp in my left. I use the swivel knife in my left hand, of course.

But the other way around for the stamps would also make sense for me, as placing the stamps correctly requires a fair bit of dexterity. So, basically, it's whatever YOU feel comfortable with.

 

Edited June 19, 2018 by Sheilajeanne

[battlemunky]

I'm a righty and hold and move the stamp with my left hand and use the mallet in my right. I also cut with my right.

[Sheilajeanne]

4 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

So glad to hear it!  Looking forward to seeing your new work!

As for your question, I am a lefty, and use the mallet in my right hand and the stamp in my left. I use the swivel knife in my left hand, of course.

But the other way around for the stamps would also make sense for me, as placing the stamps correctly requires a fair bit of dexterity. So, basically, it's whatever YOU feel comfortable with.

 

I don't know how, but I got that bassackwards! I use the mallet in my left hand and the stamp in  my right!  

[Raksha]

Okey, looks like the mallet goes in your perferd hand. I use both now, depending on angel and tierdness in my arm. But suppose it is best to stick to one.