New Belt From Me

[KY23]

Made a new gun belt. 10 oz Bridle leather for the front and 10 oz veg tan for the back. Back was finished with neatsfoot. Edges dyed black and then painted with edge coat. Stainless steel buckle. Wish I could find stainless steel chicago screws.

Sewn up with 277 white nylon on the top and 207 white nylon on the bottom using a 24 needle and a Cowboy CB4500.

I really like the natural color backs of my belts but still working through smudges and inconsistencies in my edge dying and painting process.

[Thor]

Great job!

[Ken G]

Looks great!

http://www.chicagoscrews.com/Stainless-Steel-Chicago-Screws

[KY23]

Looks great!

http://www.chicagoscrews.com/Stainless-Steel-Chicago-Screws

Thank you Ken. Much appreciated. Ordering some now.

[paprhangr]

that's a good lookin,Husky belt 20oz. heavy stitch looks great.

how you do the skive at the buckle fold?

[KY23]

that's a good lookin,Husky belt 20oz. heavy stitch looks great.

how you do the skive at the buckle fold?

I skive the buckle end with a safety beveler and then use a 8" sanding to get it to a uniform thickness. On the backside the 10 oz vegtan ends right before the buckle. I just skive the bridle leather from the beginning of the belt slot to the end. I use the same english point strap punch on the buckle end as I do on the hole end. I don't like a square look even behind the belt. Gives it a more finished look IMO.

I just made a 68" belt for a Christmas gift and it was very difficult to manage. Wouldn't fit on my working table. I think a belt maker could make some serious money focusing on big guys. They do not have many options for good belts.

Edited December 31, 2015 by KY23

[dfrensdorff]

Very nice looking belt.....

[Jon P]

Awesome!!

[JLSleather]

That's a nice looking belt

[MonicaJacobson]

Nice work!

[KY23]

Thanks everyone. I am having some issues with edging. I dye the edges and use edge paint. The problem is the edge paint is coming off.

Here is my process:

After gluing and stitching the belt I use a 220 grit sander to even up all edges.

I then use a 1000 grit sanding sponge to further slick the edges and then use 1,200 sandpaper.

Then I use a #3 western edger to round all edges

After that I use a burnisher in a drill press and take a few passes over the belt with a wet edge.

I then dye the edges (black usually) using a Fiebings edge dye

After the dye has dried I use Fiebings yellow saddle soap and a canvas cloth to slick the edges smooth.

After that dries I apply edge paint.

I'm thinking about skipping the edge paint because its coming off when the buckle rubs the belt. The edge paint makes the edge look better when its new but makes it look like crap after just a few times being worn.

Any ideas?

[MonicaJacobson]

I'm still trying to figure out edges myself, and have yet to test edges for durability, but the consensus, as far as I have read, is that applying any kind of edge-slicking soap, gum trag, or anything like that before applying edge paint will make it so the edge paint cannot adhere properly to the edge. Basically, if you're going to use edge paint, don't use saddle soap or wax first. Dispense with the soap entirely and wax and burnish after the edge paint has cured.