help with stitch groover

[maggielj]

Hi yall!

I am currently working on an inlay belt with a large piece of loomed beadwork, and naturally I want this to be a quality piece that will not break. This is the second time I have made a belt of this style, and I have learned a lot the second time around but I need some advice from someone whos more experienced than I am.

 This belt is going to have the beading glued to a liner and the liner machine sewed to a tooled front, but my question is is should I use a stitch groover on either sides of the belt? I'm concerned that removing leather with a groover will weaken the piece, but on the same hand I'm worried that the thread will eventually wear down if it doesn't have a groove. Thank you in advanced

[Ddat]

There was recently another thread where this topic came up. Some were advocating for creasing, citing the same worries as you, and then others were saying the groove will not affect durability or strength. 

 

[Dwight]

My 20+ yr old double layer belt that is roughly .200 inches thick . . . was grooved on both sides . . . with a "then new" groover . . . and the 346 thread that went into those grooves is basically flat against the leather.

I wear a large cell phone . . . and a 3 pound firearm . . . have never had a problem.

Cannot tell you how many belts I've made and sold . . . have never had a "groover" complaint.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Klara]

Given that the groove runs lenghtwise and the stress on the belt is also lengthwise (insofar as there is any stress) there should not be a problem at all. I would maybe not groove across the width of the belt behind the buckle, though...

[fredk]

The stitch groove need not be cut into the leather but can be pressed in