New part of leatherwork

[Davm]

I've always used stamps since I figured that carving was beyond my skill level but now I want to give it a try.  I need a pastime that doesn't cost a lot. With leather carving I can spend a lot of time on a small piece of leather. I make knife sheaths and handgun holsters so that is my focus.  What are the easiest for beginners/ Floral? Leaves/acorns? Thanks for any help.

[battlemunky]

For me, none of it is easy! I struggle with every piece but I see improvement every once in a while. Start small and practice on a piece that uses a lot of the basics.

Edited September 15, 2021 by battlemunky

[tsunkasapa]

I have always been partial to oak leaves and basket weave. If you do oak leaves with pointy ends they are easier than rounded ends.

[billybopp]

I'd suggest start with some of the simpler Tandy Craftaids.  Craftaids take out the variable of tracing patterns.  I'd suggest one of the simpler flower templates and some celtic knots.  Celtic knots are deceptive!  They look simple, but the long smooth curves are good for learning to control your swivel knife and also for learning to bevel where one line dives under another to get you thinking about beveling.  

I'd also suggest using some scrap for some exercises - Just make some lines - learn how to ease your swivel into and out of lines - trailing off pressure.  Make some circles, make some S curves, then mirror them.  All good for learning control.   Just like practicing scales in music, or practicing your basic swing in golf.

Hope that helps!

- Bill

[PastorBob]

Joe Meling has some excellent carving practice videos with exercises you can do.  Also, Bruce Cheney as well as Springfield Leather.  

[Davm]

Thanks everyone

 

[Klara]

I'm at the same point in my leatherworking journey and I've rather enjoyed the videos by Jim Linnell on YouTube (he made some for Tandy). While there I discovered he has a website, a downloadable free video about the basics (pretty much the same as YouTube, but without the ads) https://elktracksstudio.com/collections/videos and a huge amount of videos for sale.

Some of them are currently on sale at half the price - I'm especially curious about the simple figure carving one where the only tools used are swivel knife and modeling spoon.

As for what to start with - I'd say something you really want to do. Personally, I don't care how many people say to start out with simple flowers - I couldn't care less about flowers (don't even like them in vases) and have zero interest in ever getting them on leather. I like @billybob's Celtic knot idea, though! And a nice big dog silhouette should be doable, too, I hope.

[battlemunky]

  On 9/17/2021 at 7:52 AM, Klara said:

Personally, I don't care how many people say to start out with simple flowers - I couldn't care less about flowers (don't even like them in vases) and have zero interest in ever getting them on leather. I like @billybob's Celtic knot idea, though! And a nice big dog silhouette should be doable, too, I hope.

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I couldn't agree more aside from all of the different skills you have to employ to make the flowers as opposed to the Celtic knots. There are just a lot more chances to learn other than straight line cuts and beveling doing flowers. Once you nail them down never do them again unless someone wants to trade you some money for them ;) but take the skills learned while making them and apply them as you desire. Same with other Sheridan style stuff...I don't care for the motif but I'm trying to learn the styling so I can employ those techniques when making stuff I actually want to make.

By all means though, as Klara suggests, do what YOU want to do but there are skills to pick up from some of the other techniques out there.

[Davm]

Okay, took the plunge and made the square that is in Tandy's leathercraft manual.  It actually came out a lot better than I thought it would. On the shade/pearing- I need to get that deeper and on the beveling- better at that. The swivel knife cuts to start and the decorative cuts at the end- those went pretty good, as did the stamp work. I've done a lot of border stamp work etc.  In any event, I think I'll keep making the exact same pattern from the Tandy book until I get it right.  I really enjoyed it.

[PastorBob]

  On 9/22/2021 at 3:52 PM, Davm said:

Okay, took the plunge and made the square that is in Tandy's leathercraft manual.  It actually came out a lot better than I thought it would. On the shade/pearing- I need to get that deeper and on the beveling- better at that. The swivel knife cuts to start and the decorative cuts at the end- those went pretty good, as did the stamp work. I've done a lot of border stamp work etc.  In any event, I think I'll keep making the exact same pattern from the Tandy book until I get it right.  I really enjoyed it.

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pics please.  It will continue to get more fluid as you go.  proper casing of the leather will lend to the pear shading and beveling.  Also, I find that the better pieces of leather, like Hermann Oak, really make a difference vs. the import stuff with regard to crispness and clarity of stamping impressions.