Belts.

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
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I want to make four belts. Two for the kids and one for my wife and myself.

I need help on every aspect.

My ten year old daughter isn't too picky.

My 13 year old daughter wants hers in black with studs, old school punk style.

My wife, black with red stitching.

I'd like to make mine in green or red, skull stamps. Maybe studs/spikes. Maybe some shark skin in there somewhere.

All of them will probably have our names stamped on the back.

I figure 1.5" for all of them. The two grown up belts will be two layers of 7/8oz stitched flesh to flesh. The kids probably one layer of 7/8oz.

Does any of this sound wrong?

Where is the best place to find funky or unique hardware? Not too interested in brass. Silver, black or something totally different is welcome.

What all do I need? Obviously the buckle. I have rivets and Chicago screws. I could buy some keeper loops. I'd just make em, but I don't have staples.

What am I forgetting? All advice is appreciated!
 
You dont have to staple your keeper straps, just run a bunch of loops of thread through them and good to go. I've done it for many years and it holds up well.

two layers of seven ounce leather is pretty darn thick and stiff. 14 ounces total weight plus the glued lamination equals very stiff.
 
Do you know how to measure for belts?
Measurement of waist = end of buckle to the middle hole, I always put 7 holes on a long belt and five for short belts.
I also insert boot eyelets in the holes , or use oval holes if you have that punch.

I use matching metal belt holders that go with the buckle, instead of leather.

Cheers
Allen
 
:) I just now recalled what we used to call them, Keeper Loops. I bet there's a few other names for them as well. I tend to go with "pain in the butt to make" loops.
 
Yes they are Dwayne. I went to buying them from Weaver. Like .35 cents or something. I've sewn them, riveted them and stapled them and at .35 cents I buy em. I try to keep a handful of 1.5", 1" and .75" on hand all the time. They are tremendous aggravation savers. Strig that lining might be a little thick. I like to use 4 or 5 oz. Leave it a little oversized and trim after sewing. Also if using studs or anything of that nature make sure they are inset enough from the stitching groove not to impede the presser foot. We've got a splitter we can thin out that lining leather for ya when we sew them up.
 
Now it makes sense , I thought you were going to hand stitch those belts and here I was thinking " man Ken you have got to harden up a bit " Im so soft I don't want to hand stitch one belt , and Anthony is going to do four . :)
Have you chosen your buckles yet ?

Ken
 
Horsewright said:
Yes they are Dwayne. I went to buying them from Weaver. Like .35 cents or something. I've sewn them, riveted them and stapled them and at .35 cents I buy em. I try to keep a handful of 1.5", 1" and .75" on hand all the time. They are tremendous aggravation savers. Strig that lining might be a little thick. I like to use 4 or 5 oz. Leave it a little oversized and trim after sewing. Also if using studs or anything of that nature make sure they are inset enough from the stitching groove not to impede the presser foot. We've got a splitter we can thin out that lining leather for ya when we sew them up.
Click to expand...

Ask the same question, get 20 different answers. I prefer to make my own keepers because of color match and using a lot of drum dyed leather. Before using staples I hand stitched them and that took a lot of time. I make them 50-75 at a time, getting them molded but sans oil and they get finished out with a belt. I do a 8/7 combo for most of my carry belts, leaving them a quarter inch wider. Prefer to burnish before stitching to make sure I don't end up sanding too close for a nick or dip not spotted before. Rolls nicely against the edge guide too.

Wanna stitch mine up too Dave? :cool:
 
I hand stitch all of my belts. I'm pretty big around the middle, so saddle stitching a 56inch long belt takes me about 3.5 to 4 hours, sitting in front of the tv with an old movie. Really kind of relaxing once you get in the groove. Using 7/8 top and 3/4 for lining. It's fun having good leather for the first time in my life. Good luck. rtmind
 
Heck no we'll have Nichole do it she rocks that Cobra 18
 
So is two layers of 7/8oz just too thick to be reasonable? I really want these (at least mine and becky's) to last a lifetime. I think I wear a 36", but I'm hard on gear. Not worried about break in.

I have allergies to most metals, barring most stainless, titanium and white or yellow gold. I'm looking at some ti buckles that include a couple of ti Chicago screws. Expensive (30-40 bucks), but the hardware will last.
 
Yeah it probably is. I'd leave the top that and we'll split the lining leather. You will find that just lining the belt will give you a tremendous amount of durability. All that you'll really need. 15oz would be very heavy saddle leather. Besides I bet you won't want them to last a lifetime. Bout three years you'll want to cut em up into little pieces and throw them away. They'll look kindigarden to ya. Then the only question you'll be asking your self is :"Do I use my new Cobra 18 to sew up these new belts I just figure carved dragons into or just stick with my tried and true Cobra 4?"
 
Bwahaha... I'd guess it wouldn't take ant years... He is in the same boat as me... Btw ant... I took the lazy route.. I ordered one from Dave. Seriously. I don't see myself stitching a lined belt by hand.
 
I am extremely interested in making a few belts for family. But I didn't realize belts are 2 piece laminated. Is that standard or can one piece be used? Is two pieces suggested to add durability?
 
Hi Ant :)

I've just finished making 4 belts for my friends. I found 1.5 inch to be nice and casual while 1~1.25 inch tended more towards smart and the squarer the buckle the more smart it turned out (who knew the term square was literal :P).

If you are still not set on the type of leather to use my vote goes to burgundy latigo for the straps. I was pretty happy with the way the edge beveled and smoothed and its one of those leathers that seems to age very well. I've used 2 layers of 7/8 oz veg tan leather for one of the belts in the past and it worked well for me but as others mentioned it was more on the stiff side. If I can go back in time I probably would choose to use a thinned down leather like Horsewright said.

Sorry I know you are a lot more experience than me but I just thought I should share how mine turned out.

Good luck with the belt :)

schmittie said:
I am extremely interested in making a few belts for family. But I didn't realize belts are 2 piece laminated. Is that standard or can one piece be used? Is two pieces suggested to add durability?
Click to expand...

I've done both but I prefer single layer since it has the added benefit of being able to use it as a strop when you're out and about (like camping). Also if you are making more than one like you said single layer requires much less stitching. ;)
 
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Hi guys, I don't post much here but check out this section daily. My work nowhere compares to the wonders I see on this section.
I mostly make utility grade(what I call it)leather items. Chisel gaurds, pouches for all kinds of punches, pouches for vix bit sets, one or two knife sheaths. Most stuff is just for me, some I give as presents. The only items I have ever sold were clip on hammer holders. Two were all leather(no metal loops).

Sorry I can't post pictures(not a paying member anymore), and wouldn't be able to figure it out anymore.

I have made three belts so far. I used precut blanks from Tandy and laminated them together at full thickness. I would have to look the weight up, but they come out to be 1/4" in thickness when done.
Two of them are 2"inches wide and the other is 1 1/2" wide. The two inchers are for my tool belt, one for summer(shorter ) and one for winter for all the extra clothing. The inch and a half is my work pants belt.

I wanted the stiffness so the belt doesn't roll or sag when loaded down with tools and fasteners. The only problem I had with the thickness was unbuckling them, I solved that by running a wide groover down the hole line on the inside and reaming the holes a little oblong.

The pants belt is about 44", the long tool belt is 60", the shorter one is probably about 50"( its at work, so can't measure right now). I hand stitched all of these. Lots of winter nights in front of the drillpress(sorry but it works great for me with smaller chuck and 1/16 bit) and the tv :)
 
kaizo said:
Hi Ant :)

I've just finished making 4 belts for my friends. I found 1.5 inch to be nice and casual while 1~1.25 inch tended more towards smart and the squarer the buckle the more smart it turned out (who knew the term square was literal :P).

If you are still not set on the type of leather to use my vote goes to burgundy latigo for the straps. I was pretty happy with the way the edge beveled and smoothed and its one of those leathers that seems to age very well. I've used 2 layers of 7/8 oz veg tan leather for one of the belts in the past and it worked well for me but as others mentioned it was more on the stiff side. If I can go back in time I probably would choose to use a thinned down leather like Horsewright said.

Sorry I know you are a lot more experience than me but I just thought I should share how mine turned out.

Good luck with the belt :)
Click to expand...

Did you have any problems with the Latigo bleeding out? I was going to try Latigo but was afraid that on a hot summer day they would bleed out.
 
spike116 said:
Did you have any problems with the Latigo bleeding out? I was going to try Latigo but was afraid that on a hot summer day they would bleed out.
Click to expand...

I didn't really notice any bleeding. It was 36.7C over here (so that's 98F) but the leather seemed to handle it quite nicely.
 
I've had bleeding issues with latigo in the past. I now know that there are two types of latigo, "belt" latigo and the regular more oiled version. I'd used the regular type when I had that problem, at the time didn't know there were two kinds. W and C makes a belt latigo, they say it is drier. Another thought. I've got in my possession (and some of it will shortly be in vilepossums possesion) a simply stunning side of W and C English Bridle leather in chestnut. This half of a dead cow has classy belt written all over it. This is really, really, really, nice leather and will make a belt that goes wow. Ordering VP'sbuckle in the morning and then when I get it will start in on his belt. Maybe we'll do a little wip on the belt? By the way and something to think of Strig, I don't cut belt blanks until I have the buckle in hand. Have learned this the hard way. Oft times a 1.5 inch buckle is really a 1 5/8 inch buckle or more commonly a 1 7/16" buckle. I cut leather when I have the buckle and will use dividers to measure the buckle to make sure all fits. 3 piece buckle sets are the worst. Not un common for the buckle to be one size, the keeper another and the tip is gonna be a thrid for sure.

Dang Kaizo that's hot! Did you say you were in London? I was in Edinburgh one summer when it hit the low 90s. People were falling over dead in Princess Street Gardens, literally dead.
 
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