Belt cutting machines always slightly narrower than "belt width"?

[nstarleather]

Hey everyone...this is something that comes up from time to time with customers that my 1.5" and 1.25" belts area actually narrower than those measurements.  When I set up the stripper to cut the width that's just how they come out. My dad has always said it's because it's meant to work with buckles so they don't rub.

Is this kind of a standard thing or is my machine weird?  You can see my machine is se up with 1" and two .25" spacers.

[AlZilla]

I bet you get a definitive answer. Meanwhile, it does make sense. When I make my belt 1.75" for my jeans that have 1.75" belt loops, they're a very tight fit. 

I imagine Bruce Johnson or somebody will be along with the entire history of it ... 😎

[kgg]

47 minutes ago, nstarleather said:

You can see my machine is se up with 1" and two .25" spacers.

Have to checked with a caliper the spacers to see if they are actually flat, with no wear, the spacers measure out to 1" long and the two smaller ones are .25" and when combine give you 1.5"? A quick check would be to use a piece of 1 1/2" Al edge trim from you local hardware store and see if it will properly between the blades.

kgg

[nstarleather]

12 minutes ago, kgg said:

Have to checked with a caliper the spacers to see if they are actually flat, with no wear, the spacers measure out to 1" long and the two smaller ones are .25" and when combine give you 1.5"? A quick check would be to use a piece of 1 1/2" Al edge trim from you local hardware store and see if it will properly between the blades.

kgg

No I haven't but they're all the same, which wouldn't be the case with wear.  I've got dozens of different spacers: 1/8",1/4", 1/2", 1", 1.5" etc...all come out to slightly narrower I can't imagine it's not on purpose.

 

[Matt S]

My strip cutting machine is only a cheap benchtop one from China, but I have to account for the thickness of the blades when adding spacers. I think the logic goes that the strip is actually the distance between the edges of the blades, i.e. the length of the spacers plus one blade thickness (2*0.5*thickness).

Could it be that your machine originally was designed for thicker blades, which have been subsequently replaced with thinner ones?

[Northmount]

Tandy's belt strips are slightly narrower than the stated numbers too.  There has been a discussion somewhere here before.  As mentioned, it has to do with buckles and belt loops.  Someone can do a search to see those comments/posts.

[nstarleather]

23 minutes ago, Matt S said:

My strip cutting machine is only a cheap benchtop one from China, but I have to account for the thickness of the blades when adding spacers. I think the logic goes that the strip is actually the distance between the edges of the blades, i.e. the length of the spacers plus one blade thickness (2*0.5*thickness).

Could it be that your machine originally was designed for thicker blades, which have been subsequently replaced with thinner ones?

I've got like 3 sets of blades all the same...unless some ancient ones were different...machine is super old.

23 minutes ago, Northmount said:

Tandy's belt strips are slightly narrower than the stated numbers too.  There has been a discussion somewhere here before.  As mentioned, it has to do with buckles and belt loops.  Someone can do a search to see those comments/posts.

Yeah I compared some other blanks and it seems legit but I wanted to find some confirmation...strangely haven't seen the discussion before.

 

[BlackDragon]

My guess is when the leather is being cut it's being squeezed first, which makes it expand. After the blades cut the leather relaxes and goes back to it's normal state which makes it narrower. It looks like you're losing 3/32". I'm surprised people are mentioning it.

You can just tell people it's like buying a Quarter Pounder. The meat is weighed before cooking. 

[nstarleather]

47 minutes ago, BlackDragon said:

My guess is when the leather is being cut it's being squeezed first, which makes it expand. After the blades cut the leather relaxes and goes back to it's normal state which makes it narrower. It looks like you're losing 3/32". I'm surprised people are mentioning it.

You can just tell people it's like buying a Quarter Pounder. The meat is weighed before cooking. 

It's not often but more often than you'd think...
 

[Hildebrand]

@nstarleather I think those that mention a minor discrepancy like that would quickly go on the I am to busy to make your item list.  Hand made items will vary in dimensions, they need to relax a little.

Todd

Edited March 13 by Hildebrand
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