Question On Making Double Thickness Belt

[yldbill]

I am in the process of designing my first CCW gun belt and all the info says to get a double thickness belt for full size weapons. My question is,where do you end the double thickness at up near the buckle end? I can't imagine bending double thick leather around the center bar on a buckle. I am planning on using 2 layers of 8/9 oz leather,is that about normal for 2x thickness?

[Chief31794]

I may catch some flack but I don't normally make mine "Double" thickness. I make them two ways, one is I use a normal thickness cut from a belt bend which is normally 9/10 oz and then laminate a 4/5 ounce to that, I then skive the end just as I would a single layer belt before I stitch the belt or I laminate two 6/7 oz strips, when I do that I stop the second layer at the same place I would normally skive then feather it with a hand skiver. I don't have a preference both are very strong and very durable and look about the same once they are glued and sewn.

Chief

Edited April 29, 2015 by Chief31794

[Thor]

It may sound like a dumb question, but isn't 16 oz. and 18 oz. even a bit overkill for a gun belt? Shouldn't 10 to 13 oz. be sufficient?

[paprhangr]

Good Question

[Chief31794]

It may sound like a dumb question, but isn't 16 oz. and 18 oz. even a bit overkill for a gun belt? Shouldn't 10 to 13 oz. be sufficient?

I wear a Glock 19 every day on a single ply belt, the belt is about 6 years old and doesn't give or show signs of wear. So my answer is yes a normal belt is plenty, however, a lot of customers are convinced they need the extra heft, so I sell it to them. I never argue. If it were a Ruger .44 Mag with 10-1/2" barrel then maybe you would need something more, but who'd want to wear that "Hawg" every day or any day. Many customers think that a double belt should only cost twice as much, nope!!! You got gluing, sewing, not to mention when I do them, the bottom blank is 2" which I contact cement to the 1-1/2" blank then trim to width. Personally, I don't like the feel of the laminated belts, they are too stiff and bulky for my taste.

I think the idea behind the double belt comes from customers buying a 1911 or such, putting the holster on a Walmart Belt then when it wears out in about 10 minutes (just an estimate), they are convinced they need double to prevent that. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong, that happens a lot more lately.

Chief

[Dwight]

I make, sell, and wear a double belt.

I usually make them of blanks cut from the same hide, . . . generally cut side by side.

The better looking of the two becomes the outside, . . . which will wrap around and through the buckle, . . . come back and fasten to itself, . . . and lay flat next to the inside piece. I use good quality buckles, . . . and I Chicago screw them together.

None of my belts has ever been returned as being worn out.

Comfort is in the waistline of the wearer, . . . and while in the pulpit on Sunday morning extolling the virtues of Jesus Christ, . . . it sometimes is a bit more comfortable to have my thinner Ranger belt on, . . . but I also do not have my 1911, and two 8 round magazines hanging off it.

Sometimes, I will use one thicker piece and a thinner piece as Chief said he does, . . . but usually mine come from a 7 oz piece of leather. It is (if right on the money) .109 thickness which will result in a .218 thickness belt. The one I currently wear is right at .240 and is a little stiff, . . . but I personally like it better that way.

The ones I make and sell will generally start at .180 overall thickness for a slim, ladies belt, . . . to the .250 for Mr. Big Guy whose girth is substantial.

And, . . . yes, . . . a few thousandths of an inch WILL make a substantial difference in the comfort level it gives. There is no "one size fits all" in this question, . . .

I hope this helps you, . . . may God bless,

Dwight

Edited April 29, 2015 by Dwight

[Chain]

I remember reading somewhere that Peter Main also adds a strip of filament tape between the layers for strength on his belts, or maybe it was to stop wrinkling. Either way it can't hurt

[Dwight]

I remember reading somewhere that Peter Main also adds a strip of filament tape between the layers for strength on his belts, or maybe it was to stop wrinkling. Either way it can't hurt

Actually, . . . it can hurt.

First off, . . . the belts won't wrinkle unless the maker does some radically wrong things, . . . and secondly, . . . the contact cement will not adhere to the filament tape as well as the leather, . . . it can come loose, . . . leaving only the stitching holding it together, . . .

I prefer mine to stay "together" as long as it is a belt, . . . so I don't put any foreign object in my leather belts, . . . other than the metal and stitching.

May God bless,

Dwight

[klaykrusher]

I run the inside piece right up to the beginning of the slot for the buckle prong.

[paprhangr]

pictures anyone ?