I’ve always used the belt blanks that Tandy already has cut and available but I’ve never been crazy out them. I’ve always wanted to be able to cut my own to be sure it was the perfect size, the perfect weight leather and the snaps were in the perfect place. If you’re going to sell custom work, what sense does it make to start with a mass-produced template?
Of course I signed up right away when Tony announced he was going to have a belt-making class. And he taught more than I thought I was going to learn, so it was stellar! He introduced me to the strap cutter (which of course I bought right away) and schooled us on cutting our own straps directly from the hide. We learned all about the little details that goes into making a belt and measuring for proper size.
After we learned about beveling the edges, slicking down the grain side, why you should punch oval holes for the buckle instead of round, and that you should always cut your strip slightly thinner than your belt buckle, Tony gave me a special lesson on custom colors. I’m a big fan of color. While ‘Black’ and ‘Brown’ are generics for countless shades of the same name, it’s just not enough for me. Give me electric lime and valencia orange any day! I’ve never actually created my own color using an antiquing process though so I was stoked with how my belt finally turned out. Considering it started as a lemon yellow. Other than the buckle which isn’t nearly as bulky as I like, I’m a pretty big fan of this belt and wear it with EVERYTHING. Even if it doesn’t match. Because it’s leather . . . leather matches everything!
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