Curved Belts?

[ShortBBL]

I want to make a nice belt for my wife. For a nice womens belt, I think it would be best if it was made with a curve shape instead of striaght, so the belt would follow the curve of her hips.

How would I go about making a nice cirved cut though? I'm stumped!

Any good methods you use?

[Aggiebraider]

I would say just make it straight and let her wear it....Almost all of my belts have gained a slight curve through normal use, but then again im not a woman.....i just dont think ive ever seen someone make a curved belt for that reason, either mens or womens

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Tandy used to have patterns for curved waist belts.

You could always use heavier paper, muslin to make a pattern. Cut a strip, wrap it around her, and trim to fit. Clean up the edges, and you have a pattern.

[Luke Hatley]

There is no need to cut the belt in a curve shape ....Just wet the belt blank and shape it to the

curve and let it dry.

[ShortBBL]

Bianchi used to sell one. I bought one for myself even. It for sure came curved. I'm not sure why, but it did. It was their fancy stitched belt.

I can make it straight and see how that works out. It's not like she has giant hips or anything. She is 5'6 and about 120# soakin wet.

Edited to add: I guess Bianchi still makes it. Here is the link....

http://www.copquest.com/14-1800.htm#Bianchi_B21_Countour_Belt_-_1-3/4_inch

Edited July 31, 2010 by ShortBBL

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

That is totally different than the ones I was thinking of. Tandy's old ones had a larger section in the back similar to a weight belt that was tooled. Kind of like taking a corset, and cutting the bottom off of it.

[Dwight]

Take a flexible aluminum 48 inch rule, . . . bend it so it flexes about 6 inches in the middle (looks like a 48 inch Robin Hood bow). Tape a string to it at each end so you can keep the bow in it.

Trace that bow on a large piece of brown wrapping paper or something similar. Set your pencil divider/compass at the width of the belt and trace outside of the first line the width of the belt, . . . cut this out and see how it fits for your pattern.

You may have to flex it deeper than 6 inches or less, . . . to get the effect you want. This is the John Bianchi technique for getting the right cut on one of his Western gun belts.

May God bless,

Dwight

[ShortBBL]

LOVE this site!!

Thanks for the help Dwight! That is a very good method and an easy one as well. You rock!

:You_Rock_Emoticon:

Take a flexible aluminum 48 inch rule, . . . bend it so it flexes about 6 inches in the middle (looks like a 48 inch Robin Hood bow). Tape a string to it at each end so you can keep the bow in it.

Trace that bow on a large piece of brown wrapping paper or something similar. Set your pencil divider/compass at the width of the belt and trace outside of the first line the width of the belt, . . . cut this out and see how it fits for your pattern.

You may have to flex it deeper than 6 inches or less, . . . to get the effect you want. This is the John Bianchi technique for getting the right cut on one of his Western gun belts.

May God bless,

Dwight

[alb]

I'm trying to imagine this. So if you took the 48 in rule when it's flexed and tied, and laid it on a table with both ends flat, the middle of the ruler would be 6 inches above the table top. So you're curving the entire piece 6 inches over the 48 in total length. Is that right?

Ann

Take a flexible aluminum 48 inch rule, . . . bend it so it flexes about 6 inches in the middle (looks like a 48 inch Robin Hood bow). Tape a string to it at each end so you can keep the bow in it.

Trace that bow on a large piece of brown wrapping paper or something similar. Set your pencil divider/compass at the width of the belt and trace outside of the first line the width of the belt, . . . cut this out and see how it fits for your pattern.

You may have to flex it deeper than 6 inches or less, . . . to get the effect you want. This is the John Bianchi technique for getting the right cut on one of his Western gun belts.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Dwight]

I'm trying to imagine this. So if you took the 48 in rule when it's flexed and tied, and laid it on a table with both ends flat, the middle of the ruler would be 6 inches above the table top. So you're curving the entire piece 6 inches over the 48 in total length. Is that right?

Ann

Sorry, Ann, . . . I should have mentioned that you lay the ruler down on the table on it's edge, . . . that gives you the first curve which will become the top edge of the belt. The pencil compass/dividers then scribes around the ruler line to give you the proper curve for the bottom.

Take a look at the enclosed sketch.

May God bless,

Dwight

belt pattern.bmp

[alb]

Thanks Dwight, I understood that it was laid on edge, I was just trying to clarify if the curve was over the entire length of the rule.

I can see from your sketch that it is.

Thanks!

Ann

[CaptQuirk]

On 7/31/2010 at 1:19 PM, Luke Hatley said:

There is no need to cut the belt in a curve shape ....Just wet the belt blank and shape it to the

curve and let it dry.

Sorry to drag this old thread up, but I'm thinking about doing another Buscadaro/Gunfighter belt. The last one I made, was cut straight, and since I have apparently lost my butt over the years, it tends to slide off my hips. I am wondering how wet forming a curved belt would work? How would it be done?

[HBAR]

There are a couple ways I know to do it. Im sure there are more ways.

1  Actually cut the rig in a curve. I know some top holster makers that do that.

2. Cut your belt straight, wet the belt (prior to stitching) let dry, then stitch it.  I do this method for the most part.  I get the belt wet, then carefully manipulate the belt into an arc.  I generally know the body shape of my cowboy holster buyers. If they have wide hips they get more curve. If they are thin and have no hips they just get a little curve.

[CaptQuirk]

4 hours ago, HBAR said:

There are a couple ways I know to do it. Im sure there are more ways.

1  Actually cut the rig in a curve. I know some top holster makers that do that.

2. Cut your belt straight, wet the belt (prior to stitching) let dry, then stitch it.  I do this method for the most part.  I get the belt wet, then carefully manipulate the belt into an arc.  I generally know the body shape of my cowboy holster buyers. If they have wide hips they get more curve. If they are thin and have no hips they just get a little curve.

Thanks HBAR. I knew about cutting on a curve, but not really excited to try that for a first time. I was particularly interested in wet forming the curve though. With a wide blank of 4", I thought about wetting it and trying to stretch it on a pipe to for the curve. My hesitation is, that forcing a curve is going to leave the leather bumpy, not flat and smooth. Am I correct there?

[HBAR]

I think you may be thinking of curving it too much.  You arent going to easily curve it past a mild smiley face shape.   Once the belt is around the waist it doesnt need a lot of curve, just enough that  the bottom flares out. Everyday wear of course will do this on it own but this is nicer on the hips.

 

For a buscadero, you may have to cut it at on the curve for a 4" belt if you want that much curve. 

[CaptQuirk]

Ok, thanks again HBAR.

[wlg190861]

In my honest opinion If you want to make a nice looking belt, make a 3 braid belt. I have had mine for 3 years now, I wear it every day, an I am a roofer, an it is still straight an looks good. As you an everyone knows after, you wear a regular striate belt, after a few times of wearing it starts to look all wavy.