How do i smooth the flesh side?

[JoeNots]

I've used gum trag for years.

I have a mitt I made to slick the sides and back.

I think it's best to work the fibers down from the tongue end to the buckle end.

It'll facilitate passing the belt through the loops.

It's probably best to stay away from blanks like this when you can.

All the work you've done on it could be wasted when the belt goes raggy in a few years.

Just my two cents.

Thank you. What did you make the mitt out of if you don't mine me asking? would using a slicker with the gum trag be better than denim or canvas? Thanks again

[Leatherimages]

Of course. I should have mentioned what the mitt was made of. Sorry.

It's cordura. But canvas or denim work real well, especially after if begins to get "loaded".

And yes a slicker would work well. I use a cocobolo saddlers slicker sometimes.

When I want a really smooth edge on my soles and heel bases, I'll work it over with wet dry sand paper.

The key ingrediant is elbow grease.

I think it's all matter of how much time do you want to spend "makeing love to the edges".

Just remember to relax the mucsels you aren't using.

[abn]

Hi, Joe:

The best advice you've received so far is to check both sides of the leather when you're making an unlined belt in the future. I made the same mistake a while back, and ended up spending a lot of time skiving the surface to shave off the fuzz. But as Paul mentioned, the rough surface is likely to return over time even if you use gum tragacanth or some other surface treatment. You've received some good advice on remedies... Good luck, and be sure to post images of your work when you're finished.

Best regards, -Alex

[Storm]

 There is one thing to always keep in mind is looking at your hide before buying it. In essence start at the source. What you are encountering is like as not the belly of the beast. Sometimes you can't avoid it but you can plan for it when you're cutting out for the project. Not only is the flesh side of the belly all stringy but that part of the cow has a tendency to be much more stretchy. So if you are not careful the act of your tooling out a piece will deform the shape of what you are tooling or stamping on. For the most part I use a apply clear Scotch Storage Long Lasting tape to the back before I do anything to the piece. When I am finished I then wait until it is totally dry. When I  remove it the tape I lay the piece face down and then pull the tape off the leather. Most of the time if you are buying a brlt blank at Tandy the back will be clean and smooth.

Storm

[abn]

Not only is the flesh side of the belly all stringy but that part of the cow has a tendency to be much more stretchy.

I don't mean to keep piling onto this thread , but what Storm mentions reminds me of another mistake I made with this same belt. The fuzzy end is probably belly leather and will stretch... If you have a choice, make sure this end is the buckle end. Otherwise, you'll see -- as I did -- that your holes will deform (as will your tooling) as you wear your belt over time.