First Try at Tooling Leather

[just_a_hunter]

I've been needing to make a spot for my long time butcher knives to live and needed practice at tooling leather.

It isn't terrible but a long way from good so if any of you see something that really stands out as needing real improvement besides the crooked stitch line and a lot finer brush in trying to make the black spots black I would really appreciate the help.

   

   

   

Thanks for looking and have a very merry Christmas!

Todd

[KSCATTRAPR]

Not too bad for your first go at tooling, I like it!

[TrackerNy]

Nice work!

[92Fspc4]

Pretty good.

[Steve Nuckels]

Laying out a design like that is impressive enough, executing it.... you got skilz!

Merry Christmas

Steve
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Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS Apprentice Smith

[just_a_hunter]

Thank you fellas, I am really down on how it turned out compared to how much effort I put into it. I don't know what I was expecting but you all have lifted me up a little. Thank you.

Todd

[tomsm44]

The tooling looks outstanding.  If I ever try that type of tooling I hope my first try looks that good.  Since you're asking for tips, there's one thing I'd do differently, and this is just my personal preference.  I like to come inside the stitch line about 1/16-1/8" and put another groove and use that as the border for the tooling.  As I said, that's just my preference but I like the way it gives the tooling the look of having a frame around it.

[Steve Nuckels]

Todd, maybe do a geometric tooling pattern in that center section of the sheath to represent a "garden Wall" or separation between the flowers!

 Steve
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Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS Apprentice Smith

[just_a_hunter]

Thank you for the sugestions. Very good ideas..

Happy Holidays,

Todd

[Roughcountry]

Todd, The effort tapers off over time when your first starting leather carving. Your first try is way better than my first.

Try adding a few decorating cuts with your swivel knife on practice pieces. Make sure your knife is very sharp and then settle on some cuts you think dress up your flowers and stems. It doesn't take much.

The more you use the swivel knife the better your cuts will be (also a good use for scraps)

You will see a flow in your stemwork as your skill with the swivel knife gets better.

I've never finished a piece that I thought was a match to what mother nature looks like, kinda hard to match ma nature with a piece of dead cow.  

[just_a_hunter]

Thank you for chiming in, Robin. I will give that a try!

Todd