Reproduction Western Belts

[Slago]

My new work... and a work in progress...
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/4904/dsc05696f.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4949/dsc05697z.jpg

Loser !!!
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/7503/dsc05701yk.jpg
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8522/dsc05702o.jpg
With my left arm ehehehe

 

[Mr Badger]

Finally got around to ordering a bunch of fixins from Standard Rivet, who Slago hepped me to... min order of $25 plus shipping, but you can get a lot of studs (around 500, in varying sizes), jewels (50, in assorted colours), and even six sets of the 'playing card' cutout conchos for that, enuff to make a hefty number of belts...

I've been putting bits and pieces together, still fairly simple designs, and now need to work out some classic patterns, such as the diamonds, 'lazy s' and square panels, in order to give my work a little more of an edge... I've also drilled out some buckles for jewels, which is actually how they did it back in the day:

I did knock up this belt for a friend last week, tho', it was her birthday, and she was very pleased with it! I made it to match a red leather jacket she's got...

Lastly, a custom dog collar for the same couple, who have a hound named Elvis:

 

[Feraud]

Mr. Badger do you tool the design in the leather too?

 

[Mr Badger]

Mr. Badger do you tool the design in the leather too?

I'm not that advanced, I'm afraid! There seems no point in me investing in leather tooling equipment when Ebay sellers can still supply most of the classic designs (floral, basketweave, even custom-tooled) for a quite reasonable sum - for instance, that brown belt was £10 ($15 US)...

 

[Feraud]

Understood. Great job on your belts. They've inspired me to get started on my own leatherwork. I have vintage dress belt buckles that take narrow width leather (between 3/4-1")so I am going to make my own belt.

 

[esteban68]

Here's my effort posted on another thread, not really 'Western' but sort of in style-ish? anyway my second attempt at a belt first was an old scout belt that needed a new strap riveting on this one is my first attempt at sewing one together, seeing the work on this thread has set me thinking that I 'need' a Western belt proper!

Here's a 'jeans' belt I made by using a blank available off the net, I bought the belt originally from a charity shop mainly for the English made solid brass buckle, the belt on it was knackered and too short, so I used it as a blank and came up with this;

 

[Mr Badger]

That's really nice, Esteban!

I've now gotta concentrate on getting into studding some classic patterns (diamonds, squares, shaped leather panels, the 'lazy s', etc) as I think that my stuff thus far is kinda too linear... I'd say just have a bash, Feruad, as the initial outlay isn't too great, especially as you live in the US so a Standard Rivet order will be min $25 plus a small amount of shipping... I got some awls from a car boot sale (aka swap meet) for a couple of pounds, then assembled a ruler, an old wooden bread board, some pliers and a hammer, and off I went...

 

[injunjack]

Mr Badger

Have been going to order some stuff from Standard Rivet, how much was shipping of 25$ worth of stuff? Can't be much more to Finland than it's been to UK

Thanks

 

[Mr Badger]

Hey chap, it worked out at $47.91 in total, so that made the postage around $22.50... for the $25 minimum spend, I got a serious amount of fixings, all excellent quality nickel plated brass, too:

6 'sets' (Spades, Clubs, Diamonds and Hearts) of the "Flat Head Cut Out Card Suit 5/8" flat head cut out spots

12 red & 12 amber "Flat Back Jewels" to use inside the above

30 red & 20 amber "Mounted Plastic Faceted High Domed Translucent Stone 1/2" jewels

300 "Round Head Spot 3/16"

200 "Round Head Spot 1/4"

100 "Round Head Spot 7/16"

 

[injunjack]

TY

Jack

 

[Slago]

Here is my last works...

Belts!

 

[Feraud]

Excellent work Slago.

 

[Slago]

Thanks!
I've done my best! ^_^

 

[Mr Badger]

Wow! Slago, they're brilliant!

 

[Mr Badger]

Here's my line-up, tho' deffo not as impressive as Slago's!

I'm really pleased with my latest one – 1940s buckle and 'bullets' from a vintage belt, Levi's 'Indian' pattern embossed steerhide belt, red jewels and nickel studs by The Standard Rivet Co.

 

[Slago]

beautiful belts ... it's nice to see other people who share my passion! where did you get the rectangular buckles?

 

[Mr Badger]

Thanks Slago! The buckles were cheap, and then I carefully drilled holes in them and added jewels – these ones, which are flatter than the Standard Rivet co. versions and more solid as they have a plastic 'plug' inside, which makes them more impact-resistant, a good thing for a buckle!

 

[Mr Badger]

Crafted my good lady wife a couple of dress belts for Christmas, after (light) complaints about how long she'd had to wait for me to get around to making her one for a pair of embroidered 1940s western pants, and I also put the top one together for her selvedge jeans. She was very, very pleased!

Am really happy with this belt, too, made for my good friend Cad Van Swankster of The Girl Can't Help It in San Diego. Since taking this snap earlier today, I've sanded the belt lightly, gone over it with dubbing and then re-sanded, before using a slightly damp cloth to remove any leather 'dust' and re-blend the dubbing in. After that, I did a spot of serious belt rolling and twisting, to get some real texture going on – it now looks about half a century old and will probably last for just as long!

 

[Slago]

Mr Badger... I link you my complete collection ^_^
All the belts I have made!

P.S. Thanks fot the links!

 

[injunjack]

My first 2 trys