Watch Strap Making

[Etienne]

Hi everyone,

I would like to up my game regarding watch straps and start making multilayered ones (I currently only use 1 layer and the leather flesh side touches my wrist)

I think single layer straps look good, but they don't seem to feel as great on the skin as the multilayer and lined ones. Also, they frequently bleed a little bit of dye the first 1~2 weeks (although that could just be because i don't seal them with enough finish..)

Anyway, I have a couple of general questions and was wondering if any of you would be willing to share their wisdom on the topic:

1- What leather type and weight to use, 2~3 Oz ? I currently use 4-5Oz but I have the feeling that this would be too thick.

2- How to glue the two layer together while preserving the flexibility if the strap

3- How to stop the strap from wrinkling on top (very often if I bend my straps upwards, opposite to the curvature of the wrist, permanent wrinkles seem to appear at the surface.

3- Where to find the buckles (tandy only seem to have bigger handbag type buckles or country pins and stuff..)

Thank you very much for your help,

Etienne

[HippieLee]

for number 3, http://www.ohiotravelbag.com/

and I will wait patiently for answers to 1 and 2 as I'd like to know as well lol

[rawr66]

I just started getting into watch straps and made a couple so far. I've been looking for a place to buy buckles, but the only place I've seen any is on ebay. I've ordered a few and they're on the way so hopefully they work out. If you're interested in NATO/ZULU straps at all you can find the hardware here; it's the only place I've been able to find hardware for those kinds of straps.

[Troy Burch]

I've got some watch strap buckles I'd like to get rid of. Message me if interested. Sorry for the crappy pics. My pictures zoom and blur on this site. It's only happens on here and I don't know how to stop it.

Edited April 13, 2015 by Troy Burch

[ramrod]

i use 2 - 3 oz for the top and bottom. i also use scrap leather or a polyester filler to place inside of the strap for a little bit of bulk. you have to use it judiciously as it can get too thick real fast. i use contact cement on all of my straps but i have never had mine wrinkle up on the top or bottom.

what i do for construction is place the top layer flesh side up and place my filler on it - kind of like building it in reverse. i place my filler on the flesh side of the top layer and glue it down. i usually coat the bottom layer with contact cement and make the bottom layer wider than the top layer and trim it later. when i place the bottom layer on the filler i usually stretch it a bit - kind of like "preloading" it. what that does is give the strap a gentle curve that will take out any wrinkles that might form. stitch the perimeter.

[nautical172000]

A good place for anything watch related is www.esslinger.com.

[Etienne]

Wow thank you for all your replies!

Ramrod, what leather brand are you using? Currently I bought mainly regular (some would probably say cheap) craftsman oak from tandy and was satisfied, but I think I would like to try something higher quality. I just don't know what brand to try...

As a side note, the only leather distributor I know in my area is tandy, some my options are kinda limited I guess.

[Christianlikeswhiskey]

Oh the battle to find buckles! I have been down this road and have asked everyone where to find them! It is a bit of a hunt but I get mine through Ali Express, Ebay, Amazon... The hardest part is finding metal strap keepers in the size needed for a watchband! I use 4-5 oz Horween Dublin for my straps and skive the buckle end. Horween does a great job with the finish on the underside of the hide so I do not double up the strap.

Good Luck!

[ramrod]

etienne - i use the same as you....i've also got some calf and shark that i purchased a long time ago. calf is mostly for the lining. interestingly, my aunt who passed several years ago, had a box full of straps. most of them are about 12" long and about an inch wide. the box had about 3000 in it. i don't know what brand they are - or even why she had them (possibly to make bracelets), but i skive them down to 2-3 oz. and use them. they'll last forever.

i've also used horween and i love it. i bought some scraps from a member here just to try it out, but i know i want more. it's great stuff to work with.

i'd post pictures but i forgot how to do it.

[AndersenLeather]

I just made a watch strap with a filler.

I used 1 mm 2-3 oz leather for the upper and 1-2 oz for the back (skived down)

The filler was made with 5 oz.

it was glued together with normal contact cement.

The strap is very flexible and comfortable.

This is my first strap with a filler so the process is not perfect.