Beginner with questions about belt straps

[BriarandThorne]

I recently made my first leathercraft project. I was in need of a belt, so I decided to try to make one myself. I bought a veg tanned natural tooling strap from Weaver, along with all the hardware, some dye, neatsfoot oil and tan-kote and I'm now the proud owner of a handmade mediocre looking leather belt! All the flaws and goofs aside, this was one of the most fun projects I've ever tried. I'm hooked and looking forward to learning and doing more.

I've decided to make some belts for Christmas presents this year and I had a few questions before moving forward. In shopping online for straps, I'm wondering about ordering one of the pre-dyed straps from Horween, or Wickett & Craig, etc. instead. With those straps, do you just edge bevel, and carefully edge dye with a similar color, then burnish as usual? Would there be any need for something like the tan-kote when using those straps? I assume not but I don't know how those differ from the natural veg tan strap that I used. Are there any other differences or considerations when using those straps? Some of them look quite beautiful, and no doubt, better looking than my ham-fisted first attempt at dyeing.

Also, forgive the lack of edge-burnishing on my belt keeper. I will be replacing that soon. :D

 

[JLSleather]

WIckett/Craig skirting makes a  nice belt.  You can get it in colors, which are generally quite good (though not exact - the "brown" you buy today and the brown you buy in two months may not be quite the same shade).  Still need to apply some sort of finish.

I do not use leather from Weaver.

[BriarandThorne]

Thanks for your input. I was looking at some of the straps available through Buckleguy and a few other vendors and some of them look really beautiful.

[Tugadude]

Nice job on your first belt.  The cool thing is you are already seeing things you need to change next time around and that's the whole process of improving.  I like the creases along the length of the belt.  I think that always adds a finished look compared to leaving it plain.  Did you heat the creaser?  If not, you might try it next time.  Experiment on some scrap.  I think it adds to the look and the longevity of the crease.  

It's fun to make something and have it turn out, isn't it!

[Spyros]

Better than my first belt that's for sure.

I like sedgwick english bridle for belts, it looks great, it's very durable and it doesn't need any finishing or dying, you buy it the colour you want and just give it a buff with a cloth and burnish the edges.  You can buy pre cut straps but if I was making a batch of belts I'd buy a bend and cut it myself, it works out cheaper.

If you line and stitch a belt you add a lot to longevity and durability, but it's a bigger job obviously, especially if you're hand stitching.

For finishing in other types of leather like veg tan or skirting I like carnauba creme from fiebings, you could do tan kote or resolene but it would make it shinier, which you may or may not want.

If I don't line the belt, I like to add a layer tan kote on the flesh side and then press it down with a piece ground glass, it makes it more presentable IMO and seals it better as well.

 

[BriarandThorne]

15 hours ago, Spyros said:

I like sedgwick english bridle for belts, it looks great, it's very durable and it doesn't need any finishing or dying

Now that you say that, I realize that the straps I'm referring to in the OP as "pre-dyed" are, in fact, English bridle. So that leather burnishes like natural veg tan? 

Edited November 22, 2021 by BriarandThorne
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[BriarandThorne]

15 hours ago, Spyros said:

Better than my first belt that's for sure.

Thanks. I appreciate the compliment. I enjoyed the process tremendously!

[HandyDave]

Looks alot better then mt first belt as well. And it has allready been said but it is much cheaper in long run to buy bigger pieces of leather and cut your own straps if your doing several. I started off buying precut belt blanks and didnt take long to see the money i was throwing away buying the precuts. And just like most things the bigger pieces you buy or the more you buy the cheaper it works out in the end.

[PastorBob]

nice belt.  Definitely a fun hobby / business (if lucky).  Where in MO are you located.  I am in Carthage.

[Spyros]

On 11/23/2021 at 3:20 AM, BriarandThorne said:

Now that you say that, I realize that the straps I'm referring to in the OP as "pre-dyed" are, in fact, English bridle. So that leather burnishes like natural veg tan? 

They're all different but generally yeah.  You'll find there are significant differences between english bridle from an American tannery and english bridle from England, not necessarily better or worse, but different.  Sometimes there are differences even between colours of the exact same leather, if you get tan sedgwick bridle it's a different beast than black sedwick bridle.  And sometimes differences between hides of the same thing... leather is all organic, nothing is ever exactly the same