getting started

[Sjm1027]

I did just that,

Went to Tandy yesterday, met Tony, great guy and spent a lot of time with me. I picked up the following to get me started:

Poly Mallet, swivel knife with a good blade, needles, thread, punch, lacing chisel, and about 6 stamps. I also have a few books to read before I get going. But Tony gave me about an hour of explaining what I need to get started. So I have some leather, and more questions but I am enjoying reading and playing right now. I need a few more things but it can wait.

Thanks for all your help

Steve

[ClayB]

Just a comment in terms of what to buy for immediate use, versus what to look for long term. Right now, just starting out, you don't know what will fit right, whether you will want thick or thin barrel, tall or short.

Wouldn't be money well spent, even on sale, to drop 80 bucks on a knife only to learn that it doesn't fit your hand well. A cheap swivel knife is just that, and it won't give you the feel that the better ones can.. but it can give you the chance to work with something and decide whether or not it fits, and if it would be more comfortable taller, or shorter, or whatever.

I'm still working with Tandy cheap knives, but I try to get decent blades in them. But then, my favorite knife for carving with isn't even a swivel :biggrin: and no, I'm not talking about carving dinner. I've got a simple one piece knife a friend made for me, I'll get a picture up here at some point.

Anyway, you want to get a swivel knife that fits you and the way you carve - but before you can know what that is, you need to do some carving and find out.

I'm with Peter here. I still use the cheap Tandy swivel knives but with good blades in them. I have one with a Henley blade designed by Peter Main for thin leather, a couple with Bob Beard sharp angle detail blades in them, and a couple with regular Tandy blades in them yet. I bought a thin barrel Barry King knife a couple years ago and it just doesn't fit me well. I think I am on the list for one of Bob Beard's knives when he gets some made. I am not sure if all the ball bearings make a tremendous amount of difference in your carving, but they sure are fun to play with when the yoke will spin forever.

[The Major]

I am not sure if all the ball bearings make a tremendous amount of difference in your carving, but they sure are fun to play with when the yoke will spin forever.

ROTFLMAO. Laughing because I catch myself sitting by my bench doing that exact thing when I am waiting for something to dry once in a while.