First trade as a leather worker

[KingsCountyLeather]

9 hours ago, Double Daddy said:

Great work! As previously mentioned, you definitely deserve high praise for not getting black dye on the back side of that black belt...that stuff wants to migrate everywhere!

Thank you. I knew I was taking a chance before I dyed it but I had a really good shiny slick to the edge I also angled the dauber to the front side of the belt. I then used Gum Trag to finish off.  I’ve never left the back of a belt unfinished before, I wonder if there’s a downside to it?

[KingsCountyLeather]

5 hours ago, Tugadude said:

Yes, very nice indeed!  Nice decorative stitching element also.  I appreciate the oval holes.  Round is fine, but that is what you typically see so this gives the belt some degree of separation from the typical right off the bat.

Only problem I see, and it isn't really a problem per se, is the fact that when buckled, your ornate stitching becomes invisible.  So only the owner is going to know it is there.  It is a shame that the public will not see your good work.

Thanks.

All the belts I make have that stitch design ( I’ve made around 20 so far) I feel like it’s my signature design... even though I didn’t design it. I’m happy enough that the owner knows it’s there.

The only problem I see is I should move the design up a little toward the buckle to catch the end of the strap better. I don’t know why I didn’t see that before? Thanks again.

[charon]

+1 for the stitching pattern, I love it. I also think something like this can be your signature just like a makers mark. I make some belts too from time to time, it's the best selling item for getting some material costs back. What you also did really well is running that crease exact where the brown belt and the black edge meet. Brilliant idea it makes the belt look so much more professional. 

So oooh and awww from me too. Did you skive the part that gets wrapped around at the buckle or do you leave it as it is? 

[alpha2]

"The only problem I see is I should move the design up a little toward the buckle to catch the end of the strap better. I don’t know why I didn’t see that before? Thanks again."

I wouldn't worry about that. I've thought that too, and when moving it toward the buckle, I thought it was too tight on the heel of the buckle. I'd leave it.

Jeff

[KingsCountyLeather]

1 hour ago, charon said:

+1 for the stitching pattern, I love it. I also think something like this can be your signature just like a makers mark. I make some belts too from time to time, it's the best selling item for getting some material costs back. What you also did really well is running that crease exact where the brown belt and the black edge meet. Brilliant idea it makes the belt look so much more professional. 

So oooh and awww from me too. Did you skive the part that gets wrapped around at the buckle or do you leave it as it is? 

 for the oooh and awww. Thanks.

I only followed other leather workers process in their videos... I creased first, beveled the edge and burnished well with water and then applied the dye. Finished the edge with gum trag.

Oh if interested, I used a wooden creaser for the line. I have other creasers but this wooden one does a nice impression too.

Yes I skived the end from the buckle to about 1mm thick.

https://goo.gl/images/91gkLw

[KingsCountyLeather]

1 hour ago, alpha2 said:

"The only problem I see is I should move the design up a little toward the buckle to catch the end of the strap better. I don’t know why I didn’t see that before? Thanks again."

I wouldn't worry about that. I've thought that too, and when moving it toward the buckle, I thought it was too tight on the heel of the buckle. I'd leave it.

Jeff

Thanks. I would like to see your belts sometime?

[RockyAussie]

1 hour ago, alpha2 said:

"The only problem I see is I should move the design up a little toward the buckle to catch the end of the strap better. I don’t know why I didn’t see that before? Thanks again."

I wouldn't worry about that. I've thought that too, and when moving it toward the buckle, I thought it was too tight on the heel of the buckle. I'd leave it.

Jeff

I agree. I do think the last hole at the tip may be a bit too close though. The belt is very nicely done and a looks great. Most unusual to have 10 adjustment holes but it should be a good seller to ambitious weight watchers I reckon. Keep up the high standard King.

[alpha2]

That's a tough one. I've done that too. Also the other version, last hole too far from the tip. I tend to leave extra for a "carry" belt, so if they add a holster, the strap is still long enough to leave enough billet with the added thickness of the holster or any mag holders. Not an issue everywhere, I realize. You don't have control over everything the end user will use the belt for, so you can only go with the averages.

Jeff

[KingsCountyLeather]

7 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

I agree. I do think the last hole at the tip may be a bit too close though. The belt is very nicely done and a looks great. Most unusual to have 10 adjustment holes but it should be a good seller to ambitious weight watchers I reckon. Keep up the high standard King.

Wow! Thats a good catch. That was actually a mistake. I was making 4 belts at a time to save time cost and I  had made a template for keeping the oval punch straight, I positioned it wrong on the second belt (too far to the tip) so i had to do the same to the first to even them up!

Thanks for the helpful critique. 

[KingsCountyLeather]

7 hours ago, alpha2 said:

That's a tough one. I've done that too. Also the other version, last hole too far from the tip. I tend to leave extra for a "carry" belt, so if they add a holster, the strap is still long enough to leave enough billet with the added thickness of the holster or any mag holders. Not an issue everywhere, I realize. You don't have control over everything the end user will use the belt for, so you can only go with the averages.

Jeff

When the mistake was made, I took your way of thinking especially when I didnt have his waist size at the time. 

Thats a mistake also!