Tooling a Belt for a Fat Guy

[Brokenolmarine]

Oh, Wait, that would be me.  

I need to work on my tooling and carving, so I decided what better way to practice than to tool a belt.  My biggest problem is I don't have a butt.  I have a gut, but no butt, so my pants are always trying to fall off.  That can be somewhat embarrassing.    Well, you know, depending on where you are.  If I'm walking the dog in the middle of the north pasture, no one cares.  We even got rid of the cows.  They used to give me funny looks if my pants fell down, but even they are gone... so it's no longer an issue there. But, if I'm going down an aisle in Home Depot, that might be a different story.  That's why I wear big ol' Suspenders.

So, to get started, I cut out a couple wide strips of nice heavy leather.  Nice looking stuff that should tool well.  I'll carve the first belt, and get in that practice, then the second I'll put some bullet loops on for the 38/357;  and use it for walks thru the woods or on my range.... at least that's the plan.

[Brokenolmarine]

Using that pattern, I determined the length I needed at the ends for the buckle attachment and the attachment of the strap with the holes, then lightly drew in the defined end of the tooling window.  Then I could start working the pattern from one end to the other.

After I transferred the pattern, I sharpened two of my swivel knives, buffed them out on the rouged leather strope, and got busy cutting in.  Fatter blade for the edge, and nice thin blade for the details.

 

[Brokenolmarine]

 

With arthritis, you can only do so much and then you have to take your breaks.  I got this far, then took a lunch break.  I came back after lunch to finish cutting in.

[Brokenolmarine]

MY next step is shading in the background.  It helps me to define the areas and to know what is what.  This pattern especially has features that are drawn to appear to go over or under the tooling window edges.  I took two sessions to background the piece but it really made a huge difference.

 

The long view gives you a feel for how it makes the design POP.

Once the hands get a break, I can start beveling the edges of the features and then work on details.

 

[Brokenolmarine]

Using a steep bevel, I worked on the features, sharpening the edges of each one and beginning to define them and highlighting.  Beginning the 3D effects.

 

During a second session, I really worked hard on the effects, working to push the illusion of items diving under the edge or protruding over the edge.

 

I had also put more detail into the leaves and acorns, but there is still more to do.  In the next session, I'll work on pear shading leaves, lifting, and edge details in the leaves.  All items I have had some success with, but also some dismal failures.  Wish me luck. 

[JH837]

Great job so far! Tooling looks great and it’s going to turn out amazing just like the knife display case. Have a great night and thank you for your service!!!

[Brokenolmarine]

See that Strap off to the side?  That came off a Gunfighter Cartridge Belt from a big name I had years ago when I started to shoot IPSC.  (Started to shoot, didn't do well.)  I was young and didn't have the funds for a lot of practice.   I think it would have been in the Late 70s / Early 80s.  It was a Bianchi piece of gear, VERY nice.  I held on to it for years, DREAMING I might one day get back into it.  Yeah, never happen.  I finally dismantled the belt and saved certain parts for templates.  I have used them often here and there.

I "recycle."

2 minutes ago, JH837 said:

Great job so far! Tooling looks great and it’s going to turn out amazing just like the knife display case. Have a great night and thank you for your service!!!

Thanks.  I'm hoping for a good result.  If not, great practice.  I keep a positive outlook.  (I do say nasty things in the shop when I blow it, but there isn't anyone to hear.)

[DieselTech]

Nice work. It looks awesome so far. That is going to be a nice belt. 

If you don't mind, would you tell me a bit about Joe's pattern packs. Did it have the plastic type mylar patterns in it? Or was it paper patterns you transfered to mylar sheet. 

Thanks. I've been wanting some of his patterns & just curious what is all in the pattern pack. 

[BlackDragon]

Looks great!

Looking forward to seeing it when it's done.

[Brokenolmarine]

The books are heavy paper, with the drawings for the patterns progressing from very basic lines, to more detail, to a finished tooled picture.  There are no mylar patterns, I have a roll of the tracing stuff I use to copy the pattern.  Sometimes I copy the pattern on my copier then use my backlit tracing screen to make it really easy.

1 minute ago, BlackDragon said:

Looks great!

Looking forward to seeing it when it's done.

Thanks, me too.  I have the basic idea of how I want to have the finished belt to look, but ... like many of my projects, I'm winging it here.  

I live dangerously.  Believe it or not, I have never made a belt.

[DieselTech]

Just now, Brokenolmarine said:

The books are heavy paper, with the drawings for the patterns progressing from very basic lines, to more detail, to a finished tooled picture.  There are no mylar patterns, I have a roll of the tracing stuff I use to copy the pattern.  Sometimes I copy the pattern on my copier then use my backlit tracing screen to make it really easy.

Thanks. Much appreciated. I will place a order with him. 

Can't wait to see your finished belt. 

[Brokenolmarine]

3 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Thanks. Much appreciated. I will place a order with him. 

Can't wait to see your finished belt. 

The good thing is, many of the patterns you can find a video of him using that pattern to tool IN a video.  The oak leaves and acorns he tools and narrates an excellent HOW TO as he does it.  It was done live so he is interacting with the comments from those watching.  I really loved watching it and it's why I ordered the books.

[Brokenolmarine]

 

[Brokenolmarine]

The pattern in the video is a bit different, but the techniques still apply.

 

 

Edited November 15 by Brokenolmarine

[DieselTech]

10 hours ago, Brokenolmarine said:

The good thing is, many of the patterns you can find a video of him using that pattern to tool IN a video.  The oak leaves and acorns he tools and narrates an excellent HOW TO as he does it.  It was done live so he is interacting with the comments from those watching.  I really loved watching it and it's why I ordered the books.

Thanks. Yeah i like to watch Joe work, he is laid back & very informative on teaching leather work. I've learned a thing or too from him. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Back out this afternoon after Miss T got home with lunch. I spent some time on the belt working on the details, then worked on the buckle attachment and the strap that will have the holes in it. I'm sure those parts have names... but I don't know them. (Yet.)

After I cut them out... I (Of course) had to add some details. I went with the serpentine pattern since the straps were too narrow for much else. When I do the cartridge belt, I think I'll go with a barbed wire pattern. (Ever notice some folks think the wire was named after a guy named Bob?)  Usually it's folks who have never strung it, repaired it, or tried to get through it in a hurry (Being chased by an angry bull or an angry farmer, and met "Barbs". 

We are so close.  I have to drill / punch holes for the buckle attachment chicago screws, and the holes where the buckle bar will go in that strap. I need to burnish ALL the edges after I have decided on stain, or natural oil... then after everything has had it's first coat, sew it all together. I also need to make two retention loops. One for the belt to slide into, then one for the buckle strap to slide into. All fun.

Still, close. 

[DieselTech]

15 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said:

Back out this afternoon after Miss T got home with lunch. I spent some time on the belt working on the details, then worked on the buckle attachment and the strap that will have the holes in it. I'm sure those parts have names... but I don't know them. (Yet.)

After I cut them out... I (Of course) had to add some details. I went with the serpentine pattern since the straps were too narrow for much else. When I do the cartridge belt, I think I'll go with a barbed wire pattern. (Ever notice some folks think the wire was named after a guy named Bob?)  Usually it's folks who have never strung it, repaired it, or tried to get through it in a hurry (Being chased by an angry bull or an angry farmer, and met "Barbs". 

We are so close.  I have to drill / punch holes for the buckle attachment chicago screws, and the holes where the buckle bar will go in that strap. I need to burnish ALL the edges after I have decided on stain, or natural oil... then after everything has had it's first coat, sew it all together. I also need to make two retention loops. One for the belt to slide into, then one for the buckle strap to slide into. All fun.

Still, close. 

Looks nice! I like your snake head detail work on your belt billets. 

 

[Brokenolmarine]

Billets?  That's what they are called.  

[Brokenolmarine]

Thanks, as Johnny Carson would say, "I did not know that."

[DieselTech]

2 hours ago, Brokenolmarine said:

Thanks, as Johnny Carson would say, "I did not know that."

Lmao I could be wrong too for all I know. But I think I've heard them called that. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Got the holes drilled for the Chicago Screws... and we are looking good.  Need to get out and burnish the sides.  Then I can move forward with applying the finishes.  I'm leaning toward a natural finish for the belt.

[Brokenolmarine]

After some last trimming where needed and some sanding, I beveled the edges as appropriate, then applied coats of Watco Oil in the Natural color.  I'll leave the parts and pieces to dry overnight and find out what they look like in the morning.  Once they are dry, I can burnish those edges and get busy.

I'll form the two belt loops and can begin the assembly process, sewing on the billets after determining the best location.  We'll either have a belt or a nice sample practice piece.  I'm REALLY hoping for a belt, tired of my pants slipping down. 

[DieselTech]

58 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said:

After some last trimming where needed and some sanding, I beveled the edges as appropriate, then applied coats of Watco Oil in the Natural color.  I'll leave the parts and pieces to dry overnight and find out what they look like in the morning.  Once they are dry, I can burnish those edges and get busy.

I'll form the two belt loops and can begin the assembly process, sewing on the billets after determining the best location.  We'll either have a belt or a nice sample practice piece.  I'm REALLY hoping for a belt, tired of my pants slipping down. 

Looking good! Are you going to sew down both sides of the belt as well? 

Or does that particular pattern, not support such?

Thanks.

[Hildebrand]

On 11/14/2024 at 6:40 PM, Brokenolmarine said:

The books are heavy paper, with the drawings for the patterns progressing from very basic lines, to more detail, to a finished tooled picture.  There are no mylar patterns, I have a roll of the tracing stuff I use to copy the pattern.  Sometimes I copy the pattern on my copier then use my backlit tracing screen

.

 

When you copy it use a clear overhead transparency then you don’t have to trace it again, just straight onto the leather

Edited November 16 by Hildebrand
Clarify quote vs added info

[Brokenolmarine]

3 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Looking good! Are you going to sew down both sides of the belt as well? 

Or does that particular pattern, not support such?

Thanks.

If I was going to put a backing on the belt I would, but in this case I'm not going to do that so I didn't allow spacing for it.  If I had planned to sew down the side I would have allowed extra border for it.