Today is an introduction to making a long-lasting leather belt together at home, DIY style. This tutorial will take you through the preparation, whether you have a lot of supplies or minimal supplies for leather-work. The options are vast. For those instructible it is recommended to purchase a with or without holes belt blank from a reputable seller, if you don’t have one at home. A belt blank is the leather strap, so buy from a good leather belt company that has been around for ages as their quality should be top-notch.
Some other items and tools that you will need are as follows:
Belt buckle to fasten the belt when it is used (worn).
Hole punching tool to make the holes.
Oblong hole punch tool for the belt buckle area if your belt blank has no holes
Rawhide or wooden mallet needed for multiple applications
Edge beveler tool isn’t necessary, but can clean up edges
Belt end tool to cut the end shape if you want to, you could cut the end shape with a utility knife instead. This is one of the priciest tools if you buy a name brand item. Amazon has a massive assortment of options from rounded belt end tools to ones more shaped like a triangle & the non-name brand ones have good reviews and are priced well-below others
There are other tools such as burnishing tool, skiver, leather strap fastening kit, rivets, and creaser tool. To be fair, making a belt involves many items to be purchased and requires commitment to do.
You’ll also need a measuring tape and or ruler and spray bottle of water to accompany a leather dye for a light stain. A dye applicator and gloves are essential. You might even want to use mink oil to condition the leather and give it some life.
Here are steps in the process to make a belt:
Step 1: Cutting the leather to the proper belt length
Step 2: Preparing holes for the belt buckle area
Step 3: Punch holes on the other end of the belt
Step 4: Cleaning up the edges of the leather belt
Step 5: Rivets and belt loop
Step 6: Leather dye, conditioning oil and burnishing the edges
Step 7: Finishing the belt with snaps and fasteners
Step 8: Add the buckle, snap it up and you are done
Making a belt is like everything else, it requires determination and effort to make one. Anybody can do it although only those committed will produce quality belts.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
DIY = abbreviation for Do It Yourself
Instructible (adj) = capable of being instructed or taught
Top-notch (adj) = of the highest quality, the best
Commitment (n) = obligation, promise, pledge, vow, assurance, word, warrant