Need another hole in sharkskin belt

J

Jagged

Joined
Aug 15, 2001
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349
OK I've lost some weight and need another hole or two in a Milt Sparks sharkskin belt. I don't have any leather equipment. I have a Leatherman Wave, .22 caliber firearms, nails, drill bits, etc. I've used almost all of those things to add holes in cheap leather belts; but I'm hesitant to do that with this one. Recommendations?
 
I...stress on the "I"...would use a small nail of the proper diameter, chuck it in the drill press and smooth out the tip with some 80 or 120 grit sandpaper. Then clean it while still in the press, place a block of wood under the belt, use low speed (200 rpm?) and drill into the new hole. An ice pick works well too.
 
Any horse people near you?? All horse folks have one of them rotary hole punches....least they should. Shoe repair shop?...Tandy store?? They all have the right tools...
 
rayban said:
Any horse people near you?? All horse folks have one of them rotary hole punches....least they should. Shoe repair shop?...Tandy store?? They all have the right tools...
Click to expand...

Even better advice! Or you could be adventurous and try one of the .22's on it :D
 
Several years ago when I was rapidly losing weight (don't worry, I found it all again), a 1/4" drill bit worked great for me on the black double-thick gun belt I was wearing at the time and matched the other holes nicely. I just touched up the holes with a black Sharpie marker.

That said, with something like a nice shark skin belt, I'd give Sparks a call and see if you can send the belt back for a professional shortening. I know The Belt Man offers this service on his own belts. Rather than punching extra holes, he shortens the belt from the buckle end.

If you're still in the process of losing weight, it might be worth it to wait a bit and pick up a beater belt to use and punch new holes in until you get settled in with your weight.
 
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