slicking the flesh side of belts

[Mike Phelps]

All the straps I've ordered from Zack White have had a lot smoother flesh side than any I've ever gotten from Tandy LF. Notice I said a LOT smoohter not a little. I'd imagine their belt blanks would be the same. www.zackwhite.com Sure makes finishing the backs a lot easier. The grain side has always been blemish free and never saw a pasted spot yet. Appear to be cut from premium double bends or butts.

[steveb]

never bought a belt blank - cant speak to that - i like cutting mine from a side with a strapcutter and cutting my own tapers

anyway

basically Cecil, I glue a strip of mission grain pigskin to the back of a belt - i roughen the belt surface if it is smooth

with a roughner - i use weldwood contact cement from the hardware store to glue the pig onto the back of the belt - i have a special technique of attaching the lining to the strap so it gives the belt a natural curved memory- and when it has been edged, slicked and such, i stitch it - thats my last step. No need to complicate matters, pretty simple.

I probably do it all wrong - but that is what happens when you are self taught - lol

steveb

[cjbleather]

steveb, Could you expand on the subject of putting a natural curve in yoiur belt when appling the liner. The only way that I can figure on doing this is to lay the front piece down and start applying the liner in increments while simultaneously start curving the belt slightly. Is there an easier way to do this. I have used this method for all folded objects. But, they would be much smaller and curved only at the fold - not the emtire length. Would appreciate your thoughts. carlb

[Cecil]

Thanks for the information.

[steveb]

LOL - i knew that someone would call me on this...simple to understand if you were to watch me, a real PITA to try and explain...but for you cjb, i will try.....

I glue both sides - belt and lining - and basically it goes like this: working from the tip (not buckle end) of the belt - i literally, inch by inch curve the billet over my hand and at the same time press/rub the already glued lining to the billet (this is tricky because the glued lining wants to jump to the belt in the worst way...lol) - so I am forcing some curved tension into the shape of the belt - the lining is ever so much smaller than the belt at the end- causing it to pull inward into a curve.....if you lay a belt flat and glue the lining, it will pucker when you put it around your waist

make sense?

steveb

[cjbleather]

steveb, Yes it does and thanks. carlb