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Thread: Buckle Down and Belt Up

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Central London
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    Default Buckle Down and Belt Up

    .
    If you fancy making your own buckle and can find a cheap leather belt in a sale, or recycle an old one, here is a system which requires no special leather tools other than a variable hole punch and a sharp knife.
    The new strap, will have to be 70-80mm longer than your usual belt, so the first thing is to establish your belt size. This is done by laying a belt you have been wearing alongside the new one and putting the most used hole of the old belt level with the target one in the new belt. Next mark the new belt just short of the prong tip of the old buckle. This gives you the size. Punch a new single hole here being careful to centre it well. About 7-8cm forward of this, cut the leather across. This end will be on show and can have its corners rounded, or be shaped to a point. Hopefully you will have lost all the unsightly bit that has rivets or stitching.
    The buckle which you are going to make should be a rectangle about 3mm wider than the new leather, or quite a bit more if oval. The fixing on the back will consist of a stout double notched peg at one end and a bridge of metal for a double thickness of leather at the other. The peg is made from a stubby piece of 4.5 or 5.0mm round wire and the holes in the leather must match it closely. The bridge at the other end is of oval wire, or rectangular strip approximately 5.0mm wide by 2.5mm thick.
    To assemble, push the end with the single hole onto the peg and close to the buckle. Pass the rest of the leather under the bridge, around your waist and under the bridge again. Then push the peg into the chosen of the multiple holes. Some of the surplus which ends up hidden can be cut off.
    Alternatively you can buy several straps of similar width, but different colours, say from Le Prevo Leather and change them as the mood takes you. Their minimum order is £10, so you would be ordering 3-4 straps.
    As you will have made the buckle yourself it is sure to attract attention. Hallmark the silver and it could become an heirloom. When worn out the leather can easily be replaced. Raw edges can be re-coloured with shoe polish.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Rushden, Northamptonshire
    Posts
    798

    Default

    Dennis - I love your ability to come up with so many different ideas and designs. And the skill with which you accomplish each item. And I love this buckle idea. I aspire to being like you one (far off) day.
    Anne

    Feel the fear, and do it anyway!
    Blog: http://www.whiteoakjewellery.blogspot.com/
    Website: http://www.whiteoakjewellery.co.uk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Market Deeping
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    2,693

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    Dennis ~ You're an absolute inspiration....
    I've started my buckle and was just getting to the stone setting on the front and the back bits next!

    The "scrap" above was the first pierced work which I melted before deciding
    maybe soldering from below would've been better (lifes a learning curve!)

    Guess the back fittings would be next in "medium" leaving the bezel wire and stars for the "easy"
    Hope I don't stuff it upon the next stages, lol

    Nic x
    Monthly FREE entry giveaways on Blogs!
    Shop Blog: http://muranosilver.blogspot.com/
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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    Central London
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    Well, there are lots of ways, Nic, but I'd skip the medium solder altogether and finish the front completely, usig easy solder and easy flux. Rub down bezels tend to widen a little when re- heated, so I refine them at the very end. Once the front is complete, I turn it over and add the fittings, first one and then the other, but not heating from underneath if there are bezels. Should you worry about using easy solder again, use very easy solder with easy flux this time. If you use plenty it works a treat for this application. It is hallmarking quality and I have never had it break. Kind regards, Dennis.

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