slicking the flesh side of belts

[Cecil]

I have been using Tandy belt blanks to make belts with. I havn't been able to get a smooth finish on the back side of the belt. I asked the local Tandy store manager and he said to use Fiebing's edge dye and finish. This help but it still doesnt give a polished finish. I have seen some of the other members work, for example Steveb's. And they get a beutiful finish on the back of the belt. How is this done?

Edited October 14, 2007 by Cecil

[robert]

I have never been totally satisfied with anything to completely slick the flesh side, but the best i figured out was to use tan kote. I will be interested to see what others have to say...

i wonder if sanding it first would work, to remove the heaviest "knap"... anybody ever tried that?

[CitizenKate]

Here's something you can try that works pretty well for me...

I have a slicker that I made by wrapping and cementing a piece of veg-tan leather around a piece of 1/2" thick fiberboard. I spray the back (flesh side) of the leather with a topcoat finish, then while it's still wet, I slick it with the edge of my slicker, then let the finish dry. I repeat this this one or two times, and the backs are nice and smooth and fairly well sealed.

Kate

[pete]

Here's what I did on my last belt. I cut the blank from 4/5 oz along the back. Than I cut a piece from the belly a bit wider and simply MASTER cement glued the two together after all finishing. I trimmed with a head knife and then edger. The edge came out great as the burnishing covered any glue seam.

pea-aire'

[Jordan]

if memory serves steveb's web site mentioned he adds a lining to all his belts, I could be wrong. I use a rounded over peice of hardwood to burnish the backside.

Edited October 14, 2007 by Jordan

[Dan Hammons]

Hey Cecil, I have had the best results by applying Gum Tragacanth to the flesh side and rubbing the belt with a deer antler while the Gum Tragacanth dries. It leaves the back smooth slick and without any fibers showing. Hope this helps Dan

[Cecil]

Thanks for the sugestions. I will try these and see which one works the best.

Edited October 15, 2007 by Cecil

[steveb]

Cecil - I line my belts - all my belts and most everything I make, beause in my eye, that is what seperates a professionally made good (read: expensive) from a craft/hobby piece - its in the details...in the parts that no none but the owner sees.

I ususally use pig for belt linings - its cheap, easy to work with and in general and works well in that app.

My earliest work was unlined and I used atom wax and a burnisher to knock the flesh side back down - but it doenst have the same "hand"...lining is the way to go - a PITA, but worth it.

steveb

[Cecil]

I have never added a leather lining to a belt. Is there a good reference that explains how to do this or can you all give me some guidance.

[robert]

no doubt there are many ways to go about it, but i cut my liners out of 3-4 oz or 2-3 ounce veg tan leather. i cut it about 1/4 inch wider than the belt, and generally finish it with neats foot oil and then tan kote. After the belt is tooled and finished, I coat both the liner and the belt back with contact cement and glue it down starting at one end (i use waxed paper to keep the part i am not working on yet separated) and working my way down. i use a small hammer to tap it together to make sure it "stays stuck." Then i sew it as i normally would, then use a sharp knife or utility knife to trim the liner to the correct width. then sand the edges (by hand or with a dremel on slow) to get the edges perfectly even. Then edge bevel and slick as you normally would.

by the way...if you are like me and occasionally get edge dressing on the liner, I have learned that a dab of tan kote on a rag will take it off if it hasnt dried completely.