How to make a full grain leather belt for $23 - Has anyone tried this?

[jones2289]

I recently read this online, and wondered if anyone has done something similar. If so, do you have any advice for good products to color / stain the leather?

If not, I thought this was pretty neat, and is something that people here on B&B would appreciate.

http://www.primermagazine.com/2012/...m_campaign=Feed:+primermagazine/otzU+(Primer)

 

[chasethehero]

that is a pretty neat guide. Its especially nice, because i have ha hard tome finding 32in belts in most stores near where i live.

 

[AllenG]

Very neat. I'm going to have to give that a try.

 

[alexo]

I make my own wallets and cellphone holsters from latigo and other leathers. Belts are relatively easy and cheap to make and you can find belt blanks like these:
http://stores.ebay.com/Zelikovitz-L...b=229272&_sid=165143249&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Sewing by hand can be frustrating with thick leathers but like every other skill, it gets better with experience and it's much stronger than sewing machine.

The other advantage is you can sew "secret" pockets into the belt and in general, customize for your every day carry needs like backup batteries, medication etc.

 

[drocu]

I like it! I hate buying belts in stores because they're generally poorly made.

So why don't more people make their own strops?

 

[tinashubby]

My father did leatherwork for about 30 years. Handbags, wallets, belts, holsters and even simple stuff that people asked for like key fobs and bookmarks. The smell of leather and the dyes always permeated the house. Dyes can sometimes be found in shoe repair shops, or at a leathercraft supply store like this one http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/. They sell buckles and rivet setting supplies as well. Spent many days as a kid in those stores and around Christmas time my dad was so backlogged with orders mom, me, and my sisters would help out with some of the completion tasks such as lacing.
When working with leather you always wet it evenly with a sponge, so as to avoid color variations when complete and dried/dyed.
One area not mentioned in the article is burnishing the edges, they make special tools but a soup spoon works fine. After evenly wetting the belt blank, you vigorously rub a spoon to round and smooth the fibers along the entire length of the belt, gives a finished look and the belt slides through your belt loops without tugging.
Beware when working with wet leather, it is easily imprinted upon by fingernails and such.

 

[RHVette]

My father did leatherwork for about 30 years. Handbags, wallets, belts, holsters and even simple stuff that people asked for like key fobs and bookmarks. The smell of leather and the dyes always permeated the house. Dyes can sometimes be found in shoe repair shops, or at a leathercraft supply store like this one http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/. They sell buckles and rivet setting supplies as well. Spent many days as a kid in those stores and around Christmas time my dad was so backlogged with orders mom, me, and my sisters would help out with some of the completion tasks such as lacing.
When working with leather you always wet it evenly with a sponge, so as to avoid color variations when complete and dried/dyed.
One area not mentioned in the article is burnishing the edges, they make special tools but a soup spoon works fine. After evenly wetting the belt blank, you vigorously rub a spoon to round and smooth the fibers along the entire length of the belt, gives a finished look and the belt slides through your belt loops without tugging.
Beware when working with wet leather, it is easily imprinted upon by fingernails and such.

I've never heard of the spoon trick before. I'll have to try it. Incidentally, I'm the one who posted the comment about the tragacanth. I've had good luck keeping fingernails from imprinting on the leather by always wearing nitrile gloves, even when I'm not dyeing leather. It adds just enough give to warn me to let up before I do any damage.

 

[eliev]

I bought all the parts and had my shoe repair guy assemble them. It has held up better than all my other more expensive belts.

 

[K9H20]

Oddly enough, 2 months ago I was looking for a belt that had the raw leather look (I like the idea of it darkening with use and time). I researched the available brands out there in the style I was looking for and found them to be unacceptably high for what you get. So. I found a leather company in Sacramento like the one jones2289 linked to and had them send me a blank. I found an old buckle on Ebay, punched some holes, and here I am a couple of months later with a belt that cost me 1/3 the price of a similar belt by Nudie etc. And it means more because I assembled it myself.
View attachment 257656View attachment 257657
I made the choice of keeping it long to go into the second loop after the buckle for a clean look, and trimmed the end to resemble the tip of a samurai sword (I was looking for a new shape that I had not seen done). I am happy with the results and recommend it.

 

[Oregoneon]

i was on the hunt for a good belt a few months back. Ended up running across this thread http://www.styleforum.net/t/168954/the-official-leather-artisans-appreciation-thread/345 Lots of pics of different belts, wallets, and other cool leather goods in that thread.

I ended up getting ahold of Scott Willis (aka unlucky) and had him make me a custom belt. 15oz veg-tanned steer hide, sewn with elk tendon, brass buckle. I can't recommend him enough, great customer service and a great deal for the quality. I think it ended up being $55 shipped for the belt. They arrive raw, and very light in color (or dyed if you prefer) and get better with age. Here's his website

http://www.dontmournorganize.com/