Need Help With This Belt

[nGIN40]

Hello all I am new to the leather craft world. I have been reading this forum for a few weeks and have learned so much already. I thank you all for that but here is my question. I want to make a Radio strap for myself like the one I have pictured. I have read so many tips on dyes, stains,paints etc. My question is I'm not sure what type of leather I should go with? Should I buy pre-cut black latigo straps? should I get pre-cut herman oak straps? The strap will be exposed to heat and water I'm just not sure whats best any help would be apprecited thanks in advance.

[Cyberthrasher]

Are you going to stamp/tool it? You'll probably want to stick to Veg-Tan for tooling and then make sure you use a good water resistant finish topped off with a good conditioner. You can get some good Herman Oak and you'll be happy with the leather. Springfield Leather will cut out just what you need if you give them a call. Since you're learning (I'm assuming), I would get a couple and maybe a bag of scraps to practice on while you're at it. The girls there will get you setup right. Just tell them what you're trying to do and they'll make sure you have what you need to get it going. If you don't want to tool it, some latigo might be the way to go. I'm not real experienced with it, but I'm pretty sure I read that it resists water.

[lightingale]

Hi,

If you want to stamp words like in the photo you posted, you'll want to go with Hermann Oak leather, or any vegetable tanned leather. You'll want to read up on how to case and stamp, and buy a set of letter stamps. There are a few things you can do with the leather to protect it from heat and water, as long as you're not submersing it or roasting it over the fire.

Someone on the forum recently posted a video about a waterproofing agent involving wax and turpentine(?) and something else. I haven't tried it, although it looks like it would do wonders to protect against water.

[nGIN40]

Thanks for the replies. Yes I planned on tooling it, so I guess the herman oak is the way to go. I've been reading and watching video's for a few weeks and I think I'm ready to try it out (well I mean I'm brave enough to finally dive in) . I already bought a few pounds of scraps and have been practicing tooling on those (now that I'm tooling I've been bitten by the bug). I also plan on buying a few straps because of mistakes cause i'm sure I'll have some. I will have to search for that video about waterproofing.

Thanks again for the replies

Manny

[Dwight]

Manny, . . . what are you going to do with the strap?

What size is the strap, . . . long vs wide?

That can make a difference.

May God bless,

Dwight

[nGIN40]

Its a firefighting radio strap. It holds my walkie talkie. It will be used by me in conditions of High heat at times and sometimes be expose to water or the elements. The strap pictured was purchased about 2 years ago and has held up well. I just wish I knew their secrets so I could reproduce it for myself. I want the pride of saying I made my own around the Firehouse.

[Dwight]

From what I could make out of it, . . . I would make it from 8 or 9 oz vegetable tanned leather, . . . it looks to be about 1 to 1 1/4 inch wide. You can go to a Tandy leather shop and get a 2 inch belt blank or a 3 inch strap blank used for saddle work.

That piece can then be split into the proper size blank you need, . . . and you won't have to buy a full side or double shoulder.

Stay away from the latigo leather, . . . if you want to paint it the same colors.

If I were making you one like it, . . . I would first impress the letters very heavily using an arbor press, . . . and tool in the logo. I would then dye the whole thing black using Feibings pro oil black dye and thinner about a 2 thinner / 1 dye ratio. Next I would paint the red letters with Tandy Eco flo paint, . . . then come back with their same paint in white for the outline work.

If you have never done that, . . . it is TEDIOUS and nerve wracking, . . . to say the least.

I would then finish the strap with an old fashioned finish, . . . beeswax and neatsfoot oil. It would take at least 4 applications, . . . and can be a pain to get it right, . . . but with some elbow grease, . . . it would look every bit as good as the one you have, . . . it is darn near waterproof, . . . and if it gets a bit scuffed up, . . . you have the finish right there, . . . it's kinda like polishing your shoes, . . . just a whole bunch harder.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited January 28, 2013 by Dwight

[nGIN40]

Thanks for the advice Dwight. The strap is 1 1/4 wide. I was thinking of using angelus acrylic paint because from what I read it holds up better your thoughts?

[Cyberthrasher]

Thanks for the advice Dwight. The strap is 1 1/4 wide. I was thinking of using angelus acrylic paint because from what I read it holds up better your thoughts?

I would only use acrylics for stuff that doesn't have an available dye color. The acrylic paint just sits on top of the leather and can have the possibility of peeling and cracking. You're pretty much going to have to use it for the white, but use dye wherever possible since it is absorbed into the leather.

[nGIN40]

Ok so how would I dye in the small areas of the letters and symbols? A paint brush? do I not dye those parts with the black dye? I've read so much stuff I'm a little confused. I am for certain going to practice on scrap first before I try anything on a tooled project