Learning Leathercraft with Jim Linnell, Lesson 2: Using A Swivel Knife

Leatherworker Jim Linnell teaches viewers how to carve a floral wallet pattern in a new video series published weekly on Tandy Leather’s Blog, available at blog.leathercraftlibrary.com/
Lesson 2 contains tutorial information on some of Jim's best tips and tricks for correctly using the swivel knife. The full blog post can be found here: blog.leathercraftlibrary.com/2...
Find the link to the free wallet pattern at bit.ly/LearnWithLinnell

[@yubidubi]

This is an incredible series. He is a terrific teacher.

[@flatdog-]

Thank you

[@chazmellor2903]

Liked the video keep it up 👍

[@BlueCro64]

Thank you for this video, I'm new to leather craft and was having problems with cutting especially a scroll, this video taught me all the proper techniques. Doing much better thank you.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+BlueCro64 Glad to hear that it helped!

[@joeyrobeson5555]

I'm new to leatherwork. Your instruction is great! Thank you

[@markbrooks324]

Brilliant, thank you so much I've learned so much from your tuitions I go back to them time and again thank you once again. Mark 🇬🇧

[@MadMareStudio]

I wish I had had videos like these when I first tried to learn how to carve leather many, many moons ago :) I could *not* get that pesky knife to behave. Now, it all makes sense. Thanks to you, Jim, and George Hurst, for making it easy-- I mean, easier XD

[@koboskolors]

Amazing instruction!!!

[@ingvarswelt2110]

Thank you so much for showing this.

[@silverwiskers7371]

excellent first class work sir. thank you for the video

[@Asenceana]

Watching this now after I completed cutting and bevelling my first piece. I realise that I've got alot to learn haha! :D Really helpful vid. Thanks!

[@Asenceana]

I also notice that my straight blade is producing really thin lines but I think they're deep. Is this down to the blade or me?:/

[@ultraman340]

Awesome advices.

[@gabemartinez2769]

great videos! thank you!

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+Gabe Martinez Glad to hear that you are enjoying them!

[@bubba7531]

Thanks Jim. Paz

[@jennifergaytan97]

Could I ask for a link for the Rouge pad & jewelry Rouge you use here?

[@shagjkhuuerdenetsetseg4362]

Perfect, what is that blade sharpener? just like choke. how can i call that?

[@pjculbertson55]

Hey Jim, I find when I am using my swivel knife after stropping, it starts out cutting like it is passing through butter but after only one or two cuts, it starts to drag and stick. I am not sure if it is not sharp enough, if it is something about the leather, or if it is normal to stop to strop every minute or so. It could be my technique since I have only been carving a few weeks. Any advice?

[@michellee8913]

So when you cut all them petals you're only using the edge of the knife or are you using the whole blade

[@AHMED-dh4bm]

Please tell me what name, type and thickness of skin you are using in this video.

[@ricardomoreira9087]

boa noite de que maneira eu poderia adquirir os desenhos ao qual vc faria as espampas no couro.

[@pattiargoff3824]

Is carving on a piece of leather that's already been dyed advisable? I'd like to carve on a chrome-tan leather guitar strap that's colored opaque white. Is there a particular blade you could recommend? Thank you.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

We do not recommend any carving or stamping on chrome tanned leather, most only use vegtan leather for this.

[@pegleg1az]

you you also strap a ruby cutter? I have my dads older ruby knife and I am not sure if I have ever seen him sharpen his cuter.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

+Don D. Yessir! Stropping is a good practice for any type of swivel knife blade, including both ruby and ceramic.

[@charliesullivan7546]

how can you determine the depth of the cut when you say one third to one half?for example swivel knife cut in 3-4 oz leather.

[@TandyLeatherCo]

This will be something you feel out when using the swivel knife. There's no exact way to know if you're cutting 1/3 or 1/2 into the leather. Its gonna be you looking down at your cuts and keeping it approximately 1/2 to 1/3 in.

[@briarfox637]

One thing that helps is a bright light bc it will also help eliminate shadows. It helps me at least.

[@synwannleathercraft8506]

Can i varve whiout aswevil knife?sir

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

In my dubious experience... er... the short "technically correct" answer is "yes". Yes, an Exact-O, or reasonably sharp craft knife can be utilized for carving, keeping in mind that the important detail is that the blade is as close to CUTTING exactly vertical as possible... The actual technique(s) however, are a bit more tricky than with the swivel knife. Foremost, the swivel knife has a thick blade, bevelled on both sides for about a 45-degree cutting edge. Mine (now that I have one) is about 3/16 inches thick (I think... haven't micrometered the thing yet)... SO with the swivel knife, into water-softened leather, part of this is "scoring" (cutting about half-way through) and part of it's about "spreading" or opening the cut... Most Exact-O's, Razor-knives, and common craft knives won't actually spread the leather, making some of your later "stamping" work more... intricate and delicate. It's still "do-able", but graduating to a swivel knife is DEFINITELY going to make life easier for you. It gets really easy to "over-stamp" or cross into unnecessary or unwanted territory when you're trying to follow the lines behind an Exact-O blade, so definitely BE WARE... Great lighting, and occasionally using a magnifier on a stand of some kind is helpful. Finally, the difference between a swivel knife being used and an Exact-O, is still noticeable. It doesn't make the work "better" or "worse" necessarily. That's about the patience and effort of the artist... BUT the process shows in the product, so don't expect work done with an Exact-O, or a carpet knife to look quite like the same project done with a swivel knife "proper"... It just won't. AND don't forget to stop occasionally, breathe, and let yourself relax a bit. It's good for you. You can get there from here. I believe in you. ;o)

[@synwannleathercraft8506]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 thanks

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@synwannleathercraft8506 ALWAYS welcome! One thing I would like to offer (even if it's still kind of a "go out and buy" or "look for" addendum)... There are some really cheap "carving tools sets" that are basically miniature wood chisels in cheap little wooden handles... I've used them myself for leather (since they're truly not durable enough for hard-wood or more than "hobby carving") and they offer some unique abilities if you can get the hang of sharpening and maintaining them... I know, a swivel knife sounds pretty expensive (and it is kinda) and we're probably only in this conversation because of "funding concerns"... Hell, you might not even be sure you want INTO this leather carving hobby/career... thing. BUT should you want a "next step" beyond a scalpel-esque cutting tool, I'd recommend the "carving set" of basically chisels too cheap to do anything... but leather. A bit of care (and occasionally gluing them back into the handles) and they will cut and spread "almost" like the swivel knife without too much headache, and I can still find sets at around $10 (US)... While a decent swivel knife goes for about $20, and just a blade starts at $5 (also US)... In any case, I'd only thought about it kind of late last night, going through and cleaning up a corner of the "back room"... (lolz)... Thought you might be interested. ;o)

[@synwannleathercraft8506]

@@gnarthdarkanen7464 thank you very much do you have whatsup i need to see picture

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@synwannleathercraft8506, admittedly (sadly?) no. I don't have much time for social media... kinda busy, most days actually crafting stuff for sales... I am hoping (at some point) to start putting a few videos out around my journey(s) into craft skills for others, but it's a somewhere in middle or longer term project. HOWEVER, I did see a nice set on Amazon : www.amazon.com/Gimars-12-Set-SK5-Vegetables/dp/B01FGZIVD6/ref=zg_bs_8090896011_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ATEN1J6XD66PFB5R0JV0 So you can get an idea what "carving set" I'm talking about. Now, full disclosure, I found my own set at a Flea Market (mini-mall?) and from China, so mine are like "$8 garbage"... and I have to re-glue blades into handles rather... er... repeatedly, even with just leather-carving. (lolz... I'm so cheap) BUT there is a philosophy about tools as well as materials in craft. "Cry once." That basically means that you can buy "cheap junk" and you'll cry every time you try to do anything with it, because you're fixing it more often than it's useful... OR you can "Cry once." when you pay a "big price" for it and then using it is a pleasure instead of a pain... every time you use it. For the record, I do still use the "Cheap crap" ones for certain things that just... have a different "look" from my swivel knife... BUT for the "professional and traditional" style of things, in leather anyway, I go to the swivel knife. It was "pricey" (ouch)... for one tool... BUT over the years, I've only used it properly and kept up with maintenance (just like the guy in the vid' does)... clean, strop occasionally, keep dry...etc... AND it does the job well. AND one day, I will probably go ahead and buy a "proper and decent" or even "a good set" of carving tools... and donate my older ones to someone enthusiastic and in need (just so they aren't immediately thrown away. ;o)

[@kaik7366]

can you edit your microphone settings to be slightly less sensitive? it's disconcerting and distracting to hear every sharp intake of breath from your instructor.... Quality vid otherwise!

[@patrose9790]

You can't please everyone