[brandvik]

Thanks Monk and Tom,
I appreciate your thoughtful advise. Its hard as a beginner when you carefully apply everything you think you understand in a project and when you are done you stand back and realize that "something" is wrong or missing and you can't quite put your finger on it.

I have done 4 more knives since I posted and I have learned a lot with each project. I have a much better handle on the rotory tool now and I have identified that my most significant problems are related mostly (but not limited to) design issues.

I agree that a lot of these problems can be minimized by making better use of the space, and filling the space with properly placed and balanced design elements. Unfortunately, there is a big difference between understanding this and actually accomplishing this.

As I said, I can see improvement now that I am working on my sixth knife, but I still struggle with the execution of a design that has real dimension.

Monk, your advise to pull the rotory towards you is spot-on. I have modified the carbide bur I am using now so that it takes smaller bites and is less likely to run away uncontrollably, but it is still the most stressful part of engraving (at least to me).

Tom, the bolsters on this knife are brass. This was the first time I cut brass and I found that it had a tendency to gawl rather than cut cleanly. Its good to hear that this may be a result of poor quality brass rather than just poor sharpening and tool control.

I have enjoyed moving away from practice plates and intend to keep turning up the pressure on myself to work on objects of greater value. I have found that my concentration and commitment levels are greatly increased when there is a little something a stake.

Thanks again for your comments and valuable advise. I hope I can post my next project soon for your review and comparison.