making a belt

[leatherworker]

so, i am going to be starting on my first real project tomorrow. i am making a new belt. i have already bought the belt. and believe i have the necessary tools. i am nervous because it's my first project with a usable outcome. also, i still need practice. but if nothing else, i can wear it and see my progress as the months and years go by.

ok. for the belt design. i am really into animals and i wanted to do this: at the non-buckle edge of the belt i want to do a bear cub. then move down a bit and have a large bear. then a little further down a buck. then a little further down(close to the buckle) a doe. i want to have some kind of border design to fill in the space and also, something between the animals, maybe some foliage or something. is that to much stuff for a belt?? i have always seen belts with a lot of designs and whatnot. so i figured my design would be good.

i am super excited. but also, apprehensive mostly because i'm not done anything this big before.

so what do you all think??

amy

[abn]

Amy, that sounds like a fine design. Two pieces of advice that will help keep that belt out of the garbage can :biggrin: (where so many of my beginner projects landed):

1. Find one of your current belts that wears well, and use that as a pattern for your handmade one. Copy the location of the holes, the size of the buckle slot, the length of the belt keeper, etc. and that should help make sure your custom belt fits just right.
   
2. I'd do a test carving on scrap before trying anything on good belt leather. You might end up making a couple of rookie mistakes you won't want to repeat when you get into the real thing. You can use this test carving to test the colors and finish you plan to use, too.
   

Have fun with this, and be sure to post some pics when it's done!

Best, -Alex

[Guest]

I'll second the test carving part...I've never made a belt, but I'm an expert a ruining leather.

Dave Theobald

[Rawhide]

I think it's a great idea. Remember practice practice practice. It's really the only way to better yourself. With each project, you see little mistakes that you correct on the next one. Stay on the forum also, this way, you can get information and critique to help you get better. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. There's always another belt blank out there.

I had an old saddle maker tell me..."Get yourself a 55 gallon drum, by the time you fill it with projects that turned out bad, you'll be ok". So don't think you'll be an Al or Ann Stohlman overnight, but you could be with a lot of practice.

Marlon.

[Rawhide]

I'll second the test carving part...I've never made a belt, but I'm an expert a ruining leather.

Dave Theobald

[leatherworker]

thanks. the belt is already pre-cut and have the slits and holes that are necessary. i definately hear the practice theme!

marlon-did you fill up the drum???!

amy

[leatherworker]

alright. well i did my belt. i'm not happy at all with it. i am going on monday to get a new belt. and will practice on the rest of my used one for practice. it was my first try and i'm off on my next one.

amy

[Dragons Pearl]

Sorry to hear about the bad start on the belt, but good idea to use the rest of it for a practice run. The only advice I can give (cos I am a serious newbie too :biggrin: ) is to keep on trying. Might see if there is a place that has some scraps you could practice on. I went to a saddlemaker shop where I grew up and the fellow there just gave me some scrap pieces to practice on. I tried to pay him for them, he laughed at me and said to just practice, practice, practice.

And pics would be great so we can see how you are doing! No matter if you think they look bad either. I don't like half of what I have done, but the people that have gotten the pieces have been happy with them. We all tend to be much harder on our work than others!

Edited October 14, 2007 by Dragons Pearl

[Cecil]

Amy

Belts Are Trickey. This is the most recent animal pattern belt I have done. Check my web site I have done sever others along this line you are describing. I will email you a background pattern and some animal patternss you can use if you want. These may give you some ideas.

Edited October 14, 2007 by Cecil

[Pip]

My advice as a fellow newbie, start simple, keep your complicated designs safe and use them later after practice. I started on bracelets, to learn to carve 30mm x 180mm x3mm you can make a load, they do sell (at least here they do) (you learn carving, dying, edging, spacing and working in crampt patterning) and this offsets the cost of the rest of the hobby a bit. give yourself time and leather to play with, you have to make mistakes to learn. Once you've done bracelets belts are longer, with some furniture to think about. And don't give up, but ask for help!

If you mess up on a bit no problem, keep it and make a note what you did wrong before you move on. Then try and put it right, experiment! and again make some notes (my memories shot, tale of a mispent youth) even if it doesn't work.

thats my two pence worth.

[Rawhide]

thanks. the belt is already pre-cut and have the slits and holes that are necessary. i definately hear the practice theme!

marlon-did you fill up the drum???!

amy

Not even close. I didn't actually get a drum yet, but I estimate that I am about a quarter full. Don't be discouraged. It takes a few carvings, and stamping sessions to get into the swing. I haven't seen your belt, but on common mistake is not carving deep enough, and the other is not smoothing out beveling tool marks.

Keep going and don't quit.

Marlon