Natural Colored Leather Belt

[Austyn]

I've been wanting to make Natural colored leather belts. Should I use some type of conditioner on the underside on the leather? If what do I need and how should I apply it?

Best,

[Ryan Barto]

I have made a lot of natural belts and the only time I do anything to the backside is if it isn't nice and clean when I buy it. I have purchased some hides from certain suppliers that needed cleaned up (stringy flesh sides) and for that I used gum tragacanth and slicked it with a metal spoon. I've heard a glass slicker would be better, but the spoon worked in a pinch. I try to buy hides that are already slicked though.

[thekid77]

I've been wanting to make Natural colored leather belts. Should I use some type of conditioner on the underside on the leather? If what do I need and how should I apply it?

Best,

+1 to the gum trag for stringy flesh sides...you can use the smooth barrel of an ink pen to roll over the leather and lay those fibers down...glass works nice too....also, some people like to line the back of the belt with pigskin but just experiemnt....theres no right or wrong

I have made a lot of natural belts and the only time I do anything to the backside is if it isn't nice and clean when I buy it. I have purchased some hides from certain suppliers that needed cleaned up (stringy flesh sides) and for that I used gum tragacanth and slicked it with a metal spoon. I've heard a glass slicker would be better, but the spoon worked in a pinch. I try to buy hides that are already slicked though.

[zuludog]

I make mostly knife sheaths from undyed veg tanned leather which is dull yellow or very pale buff coloured.

When I have sewn & finished the sheath I soak it pretty well with leather oil and leather grease applied all over, including the inside, with an old toothbrush, and warmed & kneaded in with my hands

This darkens the colour slightly to a sort of dull mustard or very, very pale tan colour, which I think is reasonably attractive. It must be, as other people have admired it and said it is a nice change from the more usual dark browns and blacks.

After a while it becomes a bit more mellow and less harsh

There is an colour change when you first apply the oil which you think is going to be a disaster; it results in darker brown blotches, but after 24hrs or so these reduce and even out to give the attractive overall colour

Try it on a piece of scrap to see what you think

[Tramps Leatherworking]

I've been wanting to make Natural colored leather belts. Should I use some type of conditioner on the underside on the leather? If what do I need and how should I apply it?

Best,

I use Fiebings Tan-Kote, works great --- It can be applied with a dauber or a rag.