Stitching a belt

[Cecil]

I see a lot if belts that use stitching as a border for the belt. What can you do in the backside of the belt to prevent the stitching from wearing out from friction, before the belt is worn out.

[Rawhide]

You can put a gouge on the lining leather. If you want to do this you should probably make the belt from 6/7 oz for the front and 4/5 oz for the lining.

Marlon

[bruce johnson]

Same thing as protecting stitching on top of anything subject to wear - groove it and lay it in deeper than the thread size. I groove my lines pretty deep on things that could wear.

[Cecil]

Thanks for the suggestions I will try them on my next belts.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

When I stitch my belts I wet the inside layer and leave the outside layer dry, so the tension pulls the thread flush with the face of the inside layer. After that I use a smooth faced hammer and a smooth, hard surface to set the stitches, to make sure they are all sub-surface in relation to the leather. I don't like to use a groover when I can keep from it, and trying to hit the groove "blind" is probably beyond my ability anyhow.

[ETW Grumpy]

I like to use a groover and the make sure the stitches are flat by tapping them with a mallet after I'm done stitching.