Belt lining

[Buttons]

What is the best thing to use to line the back of a belt?

[Dwight]

Leather.

Specifically, . . . veggie tan is what I prefer, . . . bonded with contact cement, . . . sewn on both edges.

May God bless,

Dwight

[MADMAX22]

Same here. Plus usually just oil then finish of your choice. 

[Dunluce]

Hmm. Another question about belts and another that may seem obvious to some! Why line a belt? I have read that you can line with suede to prevent a belt slipping around but that isn't something I have ever found a problem. Another reason I can think of is to prevent wear on the trouser, so would you line with the skin side of veg tan towards the cloth? I am about to make a belt with 4mm bridle; is it worth lining it? 

[Dwight]

When you look (as in dissect) at a piece of leather, . . . you go from the outside or the hair side, . . . to the inside or the flesh side.

If you sliced it off in say in 1/100th of an inch slices, . . . the strongest slice would be the very outside piece, . . . where the hair grew on the animal.

The weakest piece would be the slice that was inside, . . . closest to the animal.

Each individual slice would get progressively weaker as you move in toward the flesh side of the leather.

By lining a belt in such a manner as having two 2mm pieces, . . . bonded together at the flesh sides, . . . you create a NEW leather item that has equal strength in the face and in the lining as well.  Together, the two faces make a product that has a much greater resistance to bending, twisting, curling, . . . etc.  THAT makes for a better belt, especially for soldiers, policemen, firemen, etc. who have to carry heavy loads on their belts.

The best analogy would be a piece of plywood that had Oak on the top and bottom layers, . . . and pine for all the inside layers.

AND, . . . I might add, . . . a layered belt will hold up to a lot more rough handling, abuse, etc, . . . simply because it is a tougher product.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Dunluce]

Dwight,

Perfectly explained. Thankyou.

[Matt S]

Lining can also cover the back side of decorative stitching, or the back side of inlay or raised work. It used to be seen as a sign of quality but I am often suspicious lining might be used to cover the nasty backside of substandard leather.