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Posted

Newbee here.  I'm putting small .22 caliber cartridge loops on a gun belt.  I have limited tools and don't feel like a trip to town.  My loop leather is 1/2" wide.  My single prong is too wide (I can only get two holes across the width), and my smallest hole punch looks too big (thread would only take up a little bit of the round holes).  I'm thinking of just using a finish nail to make the holes for the needle.  Any reason why I should not?  Thanks.

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Posted (edited)

Al Stohlman made many of his first leather working tools out of nails. So, you are following a time-honoured tradition here, and there is absolutely NO reason this shouldn't work!

Maybe you can figure out some way to attach the nail to a handle, to save your fingers from having to manipulate something so small.

For the future though, awls are cheap, and a great way to punch holes in small spaces.

Edited by Sheilajeanne
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Posted
50 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

Al Stohlman made many of his first leather working tools out of nails. So, you are following a time-honoured tradition here, and there is absolutely NO reason this shouldn't work!

Maybe you can figure out some way to attach the nail to a handle, to save your fingers from having to manipulate something so small.

For the future though, awls are cheap, and a great way to punch holes in small spaces.

Thanks, Sheilajeanne.  When you mentioned awls, it brought to mind my wife's ice pick.  I have to put a sharper point on it, but I'll give that a try.

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Posted
4 hours ago, JamesRiley said:

Newbee here.  I'm putting small .22 caliber cartridge loops on a gun belt.  I have limited tools and don't feel like a trip to town.  My loop leather is 1/2" wide.  My single prong is too wide (I can only get two holes across the width), and my smallest hole punch looks too big (thread would only take up a little bit of the round holes).  I'm thinking of just using a finish nail to make the holes for the needle.  Any reason why I should not?  Thanks.

Well . . .  james . . . first off . . . don't do what you are talking about.  THE way to do cartridge belts is to weave them . . . not sew or stitch them.

Others on here will disagree . . . but a sewn loop will one day become a loop that the bullet either falls thru completely . . . or falls out of while you are walking down the road . . . in my opinion.

The pictures tell the way to do these . . . basically you punch a hole in the belt . . . weave the leather loop thru the hole . . . then back thru that same hole . . .leaving a loop of leather on the outside to hold the cartridge.  All you do is rivet both ends . . . no sewing at all.

May God bless,

Dwight

 

cartridge example 2.jpg

cartridge example 3.jpg

cartridge example 4.jpg

If you can breathe, . . . thank God.

If you can read, . . . thank a teacher.

If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran.

www.dwightsgunleather.com

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Posted

John Bianchi gun leather comes to mind he sews them not sure how many he's made but I'll bet it's in the thousands ? I sew them to haven't had any bullets fall out of mine yet all that hole punching and weaving seams a bit bulky but people do have different opinions.

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Posted

Here is an example of the weaving . . . 

Very little bulk . . . and even when the leather of the belt stretches (as all leather does over time) . . . the loops don't have anything to pull them wider as is possible with the sewn on loops.

Plus . . . I only have a Tippmann Boss sewing machine . . . I can weave one of these belts in about half the time it takes to sew it . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

duke rig money belt.jpg

If you can breathe, . . . thank God.

If you can read, . . . thank a teacher.

If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran.

www.dwightsgunleather.com

  • Contributing Member
Posted
2 hours ago, Dwight said:

Here is an example of the weaving . . . 

Very little bulk . . . and even when the leather of the belt stretches (as all leather does over time) . . . the loops don't have anything to pull them wider as is possible with the sewn on loops.

Plus . . . I only have a Tippmann Boss sewing machine . . . I can weave one of these belts in about half the time it takes to sew it . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

duke rig money belt.jpg

Time is money but besides all that what a nice looking belt I really like the contrasting leather nice belt Dwight.

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Posted
17 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

That certainly would work, too, and would be easier on the hands!

Thanks, Folks.  The weaving looks a whole lot easier, and that's a mighty fine looking belt.  I think I will give that a shot next time.  Right now, I'm part way down the road with the stitching so I'll follow that through.  I've got a .45 belt I've had (and road with) for about 40 years and it's still holding rounds.  I do like the look of sinew stitching, but it is a labor.  .22 even more so!  LOL! 

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