Here
you will find our primitive, yet effective methods for cutting leather
belt strips and finishing belt edges. Our method may make manufacturers
chuckle; but we hope this page will prove useful and informative to other
traditional craftsmen. |
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The
most important thing to consider before starting any project is Materials.
We begin making our belts using Full Grain DOMESTIC (American) Cow and
Bull Hides. Imports hides are available at less cost... Try both and you
will see there is no comparison. |
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To
make a leather belt, you must begin with a straight edge. This is not
rocket science. We lay a piece of flat bar on the hide and use a utility
razor knife to straighten the edge (see picture at left)
A simple and affordable hand
tool is used to cut belt strips of any width after the edge is straightened
(see picture on right) |
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Whether
it helps or gets in the way, sometimes we can all use a third hand... |
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After
the belt strips are cut, it is imperative you bevel the edges. We have
a "hi-tech" edger pictured at left. The tool removes a thin
strip of leather from the corner of all four belt edges. The result is
rounded belt edges. An inexpensive handtool is also available to complete
this process. Check our Leather Supply
page for sources |
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Most
leather workers would consider the belt edges ready to be finished at
this point. We have always put too much into finishing our edges. Notice
in the picture below that the leather would still not be considered "smooth"
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Remember,
at this point, we are still only concerned with our leather belt edges.
Thus, we stack the belt strips and clamp them between strips of wood.
Note that the only part of the leather that is exposed is the edge. Now
we are ready to condition the belt edge. We use a foam brush to apply
Gum Tragacanth. The gum prepares the edge for burnishing. |
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The
picture at right shows our homemade "slicker wheel" The wheel
on the left is countersunk and attached to an old washing machine motor.
The wheel on the right acts as a fence, and can be adjusted to accomodate
straps of different widths. The fast spinning wheel smooths the belt edges. |
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The
pic at left shows edges befor the slicking process. Pic at right shows
smooth, burnished belt edges ready for Edge-Kote. |
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Finally,
we stack and clamp the leather belts for a second time and apply Fiebing's
Edge Kote. Now just mark and cut your strips to size and begin to tool
leather belts |
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