How to Buckstitch a Leather Belt in 2024

Here is an in depth video of how I buckstitch a handmade leather belt! Most of these buckstitching techniques cover the overall method and can be applied to most projects. Buckstitching is a great lacing technique to practice and can be used in lieu of thread stitching in many instances. It has a classic look to it and will definitely stand out on any finished item!
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[@kerryg4119]

It's been many years since I did any buckstitching and this was a great refresher. I did a black gun belt with natural latigo lace and it still looks good to this day. I've got my old Tandy buckstitching punches somewhere. I'll have to go dig them out and make something! Great tutorial. Just the right information and thank you (and I mean thank you) for not using so much fast forward in your demonstration.

[@pipewrenchlynch937]

Nice video . Finally.!! FINALLY.! Someone with a BuckStitch video that show punching holes and stitching FROM the tip back .. I buckstitched Hundreds of. Belts when I worked for a Leather shop in the 70 s . I would recommend using a needle for speed . Use your thumb on the front and hold with 3 fingers on the back definitely faster than a stiching pony . Pull thru start needle in next hole then pull thru .. I used to do a run like you (and still do sometimes ) the guy I worked for said You pulled it ALL the way thru .! Just keep pulling LOL . He timed me on both .. making a run was slower . Try to find a 3 prong chisel .. DON'T go to a longer one . A three prong will pull out faster and help you punch the holes a LOT faster .. I have an OLD Tandy one that has a bevel to it and 3 prongs. It is much smoother and faster than the stuff you buy today. I have asked Tandy to make them .. sadly got ignored 😊 Hope you don't mind some old school input . IF people follow your tips they will get a nice BckStch belt . Main THING . Start from the tip ! .. it also eliminates a LOT of wear on your lace . Uh .. and YES stitch past the turn back .. Stay Well PTL

[@Girtyleatherco]

I really appreciate the in depth input! It’s always good to hear from people who had someone actually teach them and pass down advice. Most of what I know is just from trial and error at this point so thank you for that information and I appreciate the support!

[@karenpruett23]

Thank you your belt came out real nice.

[@justmeva]

No need to apologize, this was very useful information -thank you.

[@Girtyleatherco]

I appreciate that!

[@bbarker5766]

This is the first video of yours that I watched and subscribed. I'm a machinist by trade and started doing leather work to further my artistic skills as I always like to keep progressing in different areas. I like your process of how you explain what you're showing. I also like how you went back to show in more detail how you finish your buckstitch. I taught airbrush classes as well as coached multiple sports when my kids played. It never failed that someone would miss or not understand what you described or showed the first time or two. But when you had them do the progression through the steps the world got brighter as all of the lightbulbs in thier head started to come on. Lol I really enjoyed this video!

[@Girtyleatherco]

I’m glad you got some benefit out of it! I really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment as well

[@polychronisrempoulakis3588]

great work! the final product is superb!

[@ParaVetGifford]

Thank you for the great information, I learned a couple more things, very much appreciated!

[@Girtyleatherco]

Glad it was helpful!

[@777mennis]

I didn’t realize till now that I too love the Buck stitch !!! I can’t wait to make myself a belt. Thanks for the inspiration

[@Girtyleatherco]

That’s awesome, I’m glad I could help some!

[@Agirty26]

So proud of you ❤️

[@steveb2739]

Very helpful video. Thanks for the effort it took to put it together.

[@Girtyleatherco]

Thank you for the comment! I appreciate that a lot

[@jacobweaver7375]

Great video, I have wanted to try buck stitching for a long time but other videos have always left me with questions. Great job explaining the entire process, I now feel confident enough to try it on my next project. (Liked and subscribed)

[@Girtyleatherco]

I’m glad it was helpful and I really appreciate your support!

[@robertk-qn6mg]

beautiful stitch

[@gordonsantos1257]

Nice belt I’m going to try stitching like that it was a lot faster thank you for sharing

[@boydmarvitz2531]

Great video! Thank you for the tips!

[@Girtyleatherco]

I hope it was helpful, I appreciate you taking the time to watch!

[@VivyBCarnivore]

Can you provide a guideline to making a tooled belt. What comes first, when to antique etc

[@mitchcrouse1246]

Love your tooling style buddy!

[@Girtyleatherco]

I appreciate that! I like to believe it is still developing and changing every day, hopefully for the better

[@heatherkidd5901]

Great video !

[@Girtyleatherco]

I appreciate that!

[@jaxx5995]

So pretty ❤❤

[@michaelkyle6283]

Man you do good work

[@jamesmack5952]

Hi! Thank you for showing us a great way to buck stitch a belt. I appreciate the way you took the time to go through each step and how you showed us precisely how you do it. I have a couple of questions: 1) Do you get your kangaroo lace at tandy's as well, or do you have to get it somewhere else. 2) What is the distance between holes? 1/8 ? Can you or have you used 1/4 or is that too far apart. Thank you again for your help.

[@Girtyleatherco]

I’m not sure if Tandy offers kangaroo lace or not. I usually get mine from Springfield Leather Co. or Panhandle Leather. The distance between mine are 1/8” and I use 1/8” lace. It’s completely up to you and your preference if you go up to 1/4”, but you sure could if you wanted! I hope that helps!

[@philipculbertson55]

Excellent tutorial. I did have a question. I can see how to hide the last odd stitch in the bend of a belt but how would you hide it on a notebook cover, checkbook, etc.?

[@Girtyleatherco]

To my knowledge, there is no good way to hide the ending on projects like that. If you are joining multiple pieces together and the edges are not glued, then you can hide it between the material. But in most cases when the edges are glued together and finished, you just have to make the ending as presentable as you can. I could be wrong but I have not learned of any way.

[@eliasmerasgonzalez8798]

Very good

[@jayplays568]

This video was fantastic, thanks so much for making it! I wanted to ask, did you use a stencil for the letters/initials on the tip (and is it available anywhere)? Also, did you just use green Fiebings pro dye to colour them did you use actual leather paint to colour them?

[@Girtyleatherco]

These particular initials were just free handed but based on a western script font. DG used to have a free downloadable picture of this particular alphabet font on his website if I remember correctly. I’m sure that’s where I got the idea from on this. Alden Leather Supply offers a few stencils and I do use them fairly often anymore, to help keep everything proportionate. I used “green” Angelus leather paint on these initials as well.

[@CarliNichols-so4xp]

Where do you buy your lace from!? I’m new to leather work and trying to get all the tips and tricks I can! I just made my first buck stitch project using your video thank you!

[@Girtyleatherco]

That’s awesome! I usually buy my lace from Springfield Leather Company. They have a decent selection of Kangaroo lace

[@danielwells4655]

Very nice video, especially the tips, very informative, my question is, if you use a 1/8 inch punch for double loop lacing, would that be the same punch for buck stitching,

[@Girtyleatherco]

Thank you very much! To your question, I would assume so, but I honestly don’t have much experience with double loop lacing. I would practice on some scrap leather before attempting it on a finished product!

[@paulzsoka9037]

👍

[@mex700g8]

Very nice work. What border stamp is that on the checkbook

[@Girtyleatherco]

I believe it is just a craft tool border stamp, that checkbook cover was made quite awhile back

[@th.burggraf7814]

I learned the hard way that you don't save any time using a 6 or even more prong chisel when working with 12oz+ leather. Removing the chisel is a pain in the ass, I can tell you that.

[@Girtyleatherco]

I have had quite a few people mention that, so I will probably just stick to my 4 prong. I appreciate the comment

[@evgeniiblizniukov6398]

Goog.

[@donovanmartinez8890]

What was the pillow looking piece while punching holes? Sorry if I missed that

[@Girtyleatherco]

It is a small piece of HDPE cutting board! You can also just use a scrap piece of leather under the belt to protect the hole punches, chisels, etc.

[@donovanmartinez8890]

@@Girtyleatherco thanks for the response!! But I was actually referring to the item you have on top of the belt. Looks like a small leather pillow kind of. Is it like a weight to help it not move so much?

[@Girtyleatherco]

Oh okay! Sorry about that, yeah it is just a weight that I made to help keep my projects from slipping around when I’m tooling or working on them. Its just two pieces of leather sewn together and filled up with metal BB’s

[@donovanmartinez8890]

@@Girtyleatherco ohh ok got it. Good idea! Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

[@tedblackburn8679]

Nice belt. Do you skive the leather where you bend it at the buckle? Also , how thick is that granite slab? Would a 9mm thick tile for landscaping work as well? Thanks and cheers from Canada.

[@Girtyleatherco]

Thank you! Yes I do skive the bend area down maybe half the thickness of the main body. My block is roughly 1 inch thick. I would say a landscaping tile might be a bit thin, but I’m not 100% sure. It might work just fine!

[@tedblackburn8679]

@@Girtyleatherco , thanks for the tip and have a great day!

[@harrisonhickman7251]

What lace do you use? The lace that I have been using keeps getting stuck in the leather.

[@Girtyleatherco]

I use Kangaroo lace. Are you using the same width of lace as the prongs you punch the holes with?

[@johnnymensi3004]

What size lacing is that

[@Girtyleatherco]

1/8” Kangaroo

[@eliasmerasgonzalez8798]

How much one belt like this

[@Girtyleatherco]

Something similar is around $450-$500 depending on the exact details of everything

[@aminsaid4379]

Since this is a comment section; since u are quite chatty, invest in a mic😊

[@Girtyleatherco]

I appreciate the feedback! I’ve never in my life been called chatty until I started this channel lol. Im slowly figuring out how to make better videos and this was my first time talking on camera