So I think before August Last year I told people I was going to start working leather...well I've been doing it ever since. I'm moderately good with Armor including bracers...Sword Frogs I'm decent with I don't spend alot of time working on those.
I always hated going to some online site and seeing a regular latigo black belt selling for 35 bucks or more.. I mean after all its just a few rivets perhaps and some dye and bang you got a belt.
having done belt making... and belt making seems to be my forte.. I completely understand the nonsense in why they charge that amount..however the extra features is what racks up the price pretty easily.
I do alot of extra steps in belt making that most people dont.. here's a common list of things I do to a belt if I want it to look good.
**Keep in mind some of this stuff has to dry up to 24 hours and multiple layers of dye or other chemicals will need to be applied based on request**
Cut the Belt Leather if from bulk
Carve Designs - optional
Stamp Designs - optional
Bevel the edges
Add Chicago screws instead of various rivet types
Thread Lock the Chicago screws
Apply Edge Coat / Dye -optional
Dye the Leather
Tragacanth gum the edges
Burnish the Edges
Apply Leather Balm and Atom Wax
Apply Resolene
Apply a coat of Neatlac
Apply a coat of Blackrock polish
Apply water resist leather spray (in addition to the properties of the finishes and Resolene)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So with all that said.. here's a belt I just finished tonight...it isnt my best work.. but everything I learned about how to do things will always be with me.. great learning tool
PS: The belt was made from scrap leather I had around, so if you see inconsistencies in leather grain or type...its because it was all scrap.. and this was an experiment
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I always hated going to some online site and seeing a regular latigo black belt selling for 35 bucks or more.. I mean after all its just a few rivets perhaps and some dye and bang you got a belt.
having done belt making... and belt making seems to be my forte.. I completely understand the nonsense in why they charge that amount..however the extra features is what racks up the price pretty easily.
I do alot of extra steps in belt making that most people dont.. here's a common list of things I do to a belt if I want it to look good.
**Keep in mind some of this stuff has to dry up to 24 hours and multiple layers of dye or other chemicals will need to be applied based on request**
Cut the Belt Leather if from bulk
Carve Designs - optional
Stamp Designs - optional
Bevel the edges
Add Chicago screws instead of various rivet types
Thread Lock the Chicago screws
Apply Edge Coat / Dye -optional
Dye the Leather
Tragacanth gum the edges
Burnish the Edges
Apply Leather Balm and Atom Wax
Apply Resolene
Apply a coat of Neatlac
Apply a coat of Blackrock polish
Apply water resist leather spray (in addition to the properties of the finishes and Resolene)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So with all that said.. here's a belt I just finished tonight...it isnt my best work.. but everything I learned about how to do things will always be with me.. great learning tool
PS: The belt was made from scrap leather I had around, so if you see inconsistencies in leather grain or type...its because it was all scrap.. and this was an experiment
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++