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Posted

If this is going to be a one time project, you should probably just buy a double layer belt someone else has already made. If you are wanting to learn the craft, get a chisel and thread and start stitching. 

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Posted
15 minutes ago, chrstn53 said:

If this is going to be a one time project, you should probably just buy a double layer belt someone else has already made. If you are wanting to learn the craft, get a chisel and thread and start stitching. 

DING DING DING! Winner!

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Posted

You can't trust glue for the long haul.  Glue and stitch.  ....or (as suggested above) buy a belt..

http://www.bound2please.com

Sewing machines:  3 - Sunstar 590BL, Artisan Toro 3200, Juki LK-1900HS, Juki DDL-8500-7, Juki DDL-5550N, Pfaff 138-6/21, Pfaff 546-H3, Pfaff 335-H3, Adler 221-76, Singer 144WVS33, Singer 29K-51, Siruba 747B

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Posted

I make a lot of double layer belts in my shop.  Here in eastern Washington there's a lot of folks that have CCW permits and they often want a belt that's not going to stretch out of shape when carrying a gun on a daily basis.

There's no way I would consider making a double layer belt without stitching.  Nowadays, because I get so many orders, I machine stitch my belts but I still enjoy doing some hand-stitching.  I actually find it to be very relaxing.

As for which glue to use, barge contact cement is a good choice.  At a recent leatherwork seminar Chris Andre, of Slickbald Leather, told us of a test that was done to compare the strength of various contact cements.  Surprisingly, regular old Weldwood contact cement, which you can buy in any hardware store, came out on top.  For a hobbyist, another advantage of using Weldwood is that you can buy it in 2-ounce bottles, rather that the one-quart or one-gallon containers that most others come in.

About hand-stitching... it's not as tiresome as you might think.  That is especially true if you pre-punch your holes.  In fact, if you aren't used to using an awl for stabbing holes as you stitch I definitely recommend pre-punching.  Your holes will be more uniform and even with a punch.  As someone else suggested, punch your holes, clamp your leather into a stitching horse or stitching pony, put on one of your favorite movies, and start stitching.  With pre-punched holes, I can hand-stitch at a rate of one inch per minute, six stitches per inch.  So, doing an average belt should only take you about the length of one movie.

Wrap some tape around the middle joint of your little fingers if you're not used to hand-stitching.  Just a hint.

"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway."

(John Wayne)

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Posted

I like Renia glue.  

And instead of tape on the middle finger, I like a band-aid on the pinkies ...

 

JLS  "Observation is 9/10 of the law."

IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.

5 leather patterns

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Posted
2 hours ago, JLSleather said:

I like Renia glue.  

And instead of tape on the middle finger, I like a band-aid on the pinkies ...

 

Like so. I tape middle finger too if hands are especially fragile(must be Italian) that day.

received_10203025102703814.jpeg

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