Members DoubleKCustomLeathercraft Posted Thursday at 01:48 AM Members Report Posted Thursday at 01:48 AM I had a costumer that wanted a new belt with his nickname and some tooling on it. I primarily make holsters and I'll cut a few straps for belts out of a side before I go to town on holster making. Well I ran out if belt straps quicker than I did the rest of the side, and didn't need or want to down 330 bucks on a side right now since I'm stocked up with what I need. I went onto weaver's site and found that they're selling Hermann Oak English bridle belt straps, which are veg tanned. It took me awhile to find the information here on how to properly case bridle leather. It's not the same as HO strap or holster tanned sides at all. I soaked the strap, left it in the fridge overnight like I would with regular veg tan. All that did was make it super stiff almost frozen feeling almost frozen. I did since more digging on the site here, and asked for input. Figured out that because of the waxes and oils in English bridle, cold is not what you want. Heat. Some say heat the tools, others say use a heat gun on the strap. It's been warm, so i left it overnight again soaked. Pulled it out the next morning and it felt like I expected it to the first time. Left it hanging for about an hour to dry to the right moisture feel and went to town. It's harder to tool than any leather I've worked with, but in the end I think it all worked out great. I don't think I'll tool English bridle again though. It's a nice belt, great feel but not different enough to justify the extra hours to tool Quote
Members akguy59 Posted Saturday at 03:39 PM Members Report Posted Saturday at 03:39 PM Great job. That belt turned out really nice. Quote
Members TomE Posted Saturday at 05:02 PM Members Report Posted Saturday at 05:02 PM I'm impressed with how well the bridle leather submitted to your tooling. Very nice work. Mark of a pro is being able to fix things that aren't working out as originally planned. Quote
Members Mulesaw Posted Saturday at 06:33 PM Members Report Posted Saturday at 06:33 PM Great looking belt, and fabulous photographic skills!! Taking a decent picture generally is hard for me, and if it is a picture of a belt.. I am lost from the start. Brgds Jonas Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted 14 hours ago CFM Report Posted 14 hours ago That is a nice-looking belt, worth the effort for sure. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
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