How to Line a Leather Belt

I get a lot of questions about what I use to line our custom belts and how I put it on. In this video, I show you how to line a leather belt and what I prefer to use. It isn't very difficult, but I do have a couple preferences that I like to do so that the belt functions and holds up the best it can.
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[@douglasmatthews4237]

HOLY COW BATMAN. What a goldmine you are, such great information in a down to earth style. THANKS

[@WilliamRayne]

Thanks for posting all of these! I'm an amateur leather-worker, and find all of these videos very informative and helpful!

[@windwolf3758]

Same here. I'm new also. Just made my first gun holster with tooling... Love your videos Don...

[@noone8139]

Thank you for all tips you've shared with us very appreciated.

[@asmith7876]

Wow, most videos I speed up, I might have to re-watch and slow down it's packed so full of tips! Beautiful work. I've made countless belts over the years but I'll have to step up my game. Great video.

[@deervalleyengravings3088]

Thanks Don. I love to learn from you. You've helped me make my leather work better. Keep up videos.

[@tomkilcullen5421]

Nice informative tutorial Don. Blessings on you and your family and your new digs. Hope the move went well. Again blessings on ya.

[@adamgardner4213]

thanks for your time I always enjoy your methods

[@nancyjones3239]

Your videos are helpful and easy to watch. Thank you

[@daviddaytona]

Thank you for uploading this video. The detail in showing your work is only surpassed by your explanation covering the hows and whys of your technique.

[@fredpfeiljr6450]

Great video my friend ! You always share so much great information with all of us, and help us to get better!

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Oh and subscribed and bought that E-Book! Have a great weekend.

[@marksheffer625]

Pretty cool stuff look forward to when I can start doing some of it. As a young man I worked in a shoe store and I enjoyed doctoring shoes for customers and myself. I would glue in leather insoles and those old red rubber arch supports which are great btw. But never thought much about tooling until I moved to Texas 5 years ago really enjoy your videos Don

[@inkironmojo775]

Really appreciate your sharing these skills.. THANKYOU!

[@101acresleather]

I'm very impressed with your skill to sew that free hand without a guide, I can do that with my Tippmann Boss but haven't tried it yet on a belt with my Class 26. I do love the guide on my class 26, it works great. One thing I've learned when sewing belts into a stitching groove is that you have to be sure your groove is a standard distance from the edge. If there is even a millimeter change in the gap you can very easily get outside of the groove on the class 26 as it's really hard to see where that needle is going.

[@richardabbott5601]

A lot of helpful information. Thanks for sharing

[@rampanttricky17]

thank you for the additional techniques! so helpful. specifically, i have not tried poster board to manage deformation and I have not been moistening before skiving.

[@snyderflyer7365]

Hi Don - IMHO this is the best "how to" leather belt video on KZbin! Great Job.....thank you!!

[@GottliebGoltz]

Ditto.

[@dannymarkgraf34]

Love your videos. you are a great teacher

[@wesdresen9994]

Great job again Don.

[@wd6919]

Great timing! I am working on a belt for my brother first try at a belt for me and the info you give is always so good. Thank you and keep them coming

[@martincaptain5248]

Great info, love your videos! Thanks!

[@blumenaue7590]

So cool. Love your energy.

[@lucretiawilson8330]

I learned a bunch! Thank you!

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

Great tips! Thanks man.

[@cavtroopermunoz]

Lessons from the master, thank you. Going to make some dog collars so should be similar.

[@pauleyedwin6056]

The Class 4’s have an optional drop down guide now. I have one for mine.

[@robertwilson5314]

Love your videos and I appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. I have grown very tired of leather working videos made by newbies and people just trying to sell their products. Rarely do I see anything useful. I have a couple questions. One, what size thread do you use when making belts? And two, is there any advantage of using natual veg tan leather over harness or bridle?

[@jamesbuchanan3439]

A basket full of practical tips and practices from a working professional; excellent !! What is the best way to trim liner excess such that it maintains squareness, straightness, etc. ?

[@HonestDoubter]

Hey Don - you can get a drop down guide from Leather Machine company. I have used one for 3 years and love it.

[@learntoswim9050]

Dang that strip cutter with it's blade exposed, i like the cheap wood tandy one, it has the blade covered by the wood

[@carlosguzman2724]

Hi! Congratulations you have a very educational tutorial… so I would like to to know abaut the best technique for edges shiny finish and what is the best and easy way to dye a leather belts… thanks 🙏🏻

[@mex700g8]

Thanks for ur videos very helpful and understanding. I'm thinking about get the class 26. What size thread do u recommend for a belt .

[@sithiradilanka5622]

Nice effort

[@DiscoFudge88]

Thanks for the video, Don! Just curious, but what kind of snaps do you usually use?

[@asiwitt1183]

Hi Don! Let me first say that I love your videos! While watching you sew your belts I noticed the old Singer sewing machine in the back ground. If I may ask, what do you use that one for? It also looks like the foot has been modified. I have an old machine like that in working condition and it would be fantastic if I could use it. I just recently picked it up at a barn sale for $25.00!

[@AntonioHernandez-yg3xs]

Nice info and great works thanks What weight leather do you use for the belt body and liner thanks

[@terry2346]

Question for gluing. Could you use a J roller like they do when gluing up formica on a countertop? Or is there a problem with that? I am thinking rather than hitting it with a hammer. Thanks

[@jameslanza3269]

Follow and love your videos. In this video, lining your belts, you recommend over sizing the liner so that it hangs out on both side edges. How do you go about trimming the edges? I cut my strap with a wooden strap cutter and trim the lines with sandpaper. Do you have an easier way to trim the edges? Thanks!!!!!

[@alanthomas561]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and how too! How do you trim your liner without accidentally cutting the side of the belt? Yep, I've done it before.. oouch!

[@mattsmith1737]

I’m really surprised you don’t have a small lap skiver. I got the small Tandy one just for doing belts. The destruction I have accomplished with the safety skiver can’t be underestimated. Lol ps loved the podcast with Nigel Armitage.

[@stephenwhite5444]

Great work!!! Is it possible to just glue a backing to a belt? I have one that is developing a crack all the way through so I want to add a backing to stabilize it. Trying to figure out what material and glue to use....thanks!

[@LizDavis2009]

Hi Don. Great video!! Can you tell me what the stitch Groover is that you use? I have several and they’re all junk!! I just quit stitch grooving because I got tired of ruining projects!! Thanks :-)

[@ericp726]

Don, can you do a video on how you make your leather keepers? Do you sew the or just staple/pin them?

[@Wimmig43at339]

I had a sewing machine very similar to that, same make. It’s a damn shame I had to sell it along with almost all of my tools but I’m almost back to where I was, almost have enough to buy another sewing machine, finally a lot less hand stitching.

[@GottliebGoltz]

Just keep pumping the petals. G-G

[@bluemoonskye1]

what glue is used? I'm having a hard time trying to find one, or know what kind to use, as i'm just starting out. thx

[@rayhernandez3157]

How crucial is the quality of your liner? I got some Herman Oak 9/10oz for the body. Do you recommend the same quality leather for the liner?

[@lynxlady5355]

What is that black Singer sewing machine in the shot behind you? I would love to know more about it, what you use it for and see you sew a small project on it!

[@mikeleahey9190]

Great video...what size thread are you using #138?

[@noed.martinez9358]

Hey Don, what kind of singer machine is that? and what size thread is on it? I have a 1951 centennial singer I want to use to see? What do you think?

[@loudmcleod7127]

When you tap that liner in I wonder if placing a small piece of 2x4 or something similar might help to distribute the pressure without marring for a beginner like myself. Thoughts?

[@1982joannie]

Nice video ! Learn so much with every of your video ! Would like to see one , on are you mesure or built a headstall Thank

[@lynxlady5355]

Me too!

[@accountonyoututbe71]

What stitching groover is that? Great video!!

[@angelamathias9631]

I was curious what you would use to line a belt if you needed to reinforce it for increased weight? Thanks for your videos, they're super helpful!!!

[@alyssafaden4223]

He just uses the poster board I do believe

[@rhettdugan6341]

Do you have a pattern for the end of the belt that drops down in width?

[@Goodhousecrafter]

I’ve seen several questions about the type of glue your using, is it toluene based or water base?

[@user-yb2bh1hn9l]

What snaps do you use on the belts

[@muzzy1346]

Do you have to stitch the liner or can it just be glued?

[@lawrenceunderwoodsr6476]

Where did you buy the poster board for belts? I can't find a size big enough .

[@traistephenson2320]

New to leather craft here. What size snaps do you use?

[@crashdummy80]

What size thread do you use for belts?

[@boothillcustomleather8652]

I have a drop down edge guide on my cobra class 4.

[@diamondranch44]

Can you do a video on how you do ground seats

[@devriescustomleather1109]

good

[@littlepacificstudios]

I am new to leather work and I have double shoulder Veg Tan good full grain.... This is 10 ounce... when people talk about belts stretching when they have them for like a year... My question is how much will leather stretch?

[@ominousinc]

What sorta glue do you use?

[@mardyfisher693]

Will a spoke shave work on leather?

[@davidfilbeck]

Can you explain the paper lining? Why one belt but not the other, thank you

[@jacobprice3406]

Don great video! What brand/size skiver are you using?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

It’s just one of the little black safety skivers from weaver or Tandy.

[@plusraptor]

What is the oz of the belt and oz of the liner

[@ericp726]

Why do you use snaps and not chicago screws?

[@masonvidinha5573]

What kind of skiving knife are you using in this video? I could use one of these in my life

[@dag36523]

When you stitch groove, do you stitch groove both sides?

[@FergsFunSpot]

I don’t recommend it if hand stitching as there is high probability of missing the grooved lines with your pricking irons. Most of the time, just the top is grooved.

[@Adam-jq3et]

How much do you charge for your belts? Don’t need nothing too fancy as long as it’s heavy duty.

[@SuperOlds88]

The poster board is basically thick paper so isnt a paper product going to soak up sweat or moisture during use and then do whatever wet paper does, fall apart?

[@tompeterson4628]

How much do you charge for a belt like these?

[@harrypatton3565]

Start and end of poster board?

[@frankbruce6889]

When I do a lined belt, I get a lot of wrinkles during use. any advice as to the cause?

[@MrHondoMan]

What type of leather are you using as 'lining'? If it's too thin it could wrinkle. It might also be due to the glue. Calf has a tendency to wrinkle as well.

[@frankbruce6889]

@@MrHondoMan I am using two pieces of 6 oz veg tanned. Not Sure if it because of 2 equal thickness pieces or leather quality

[@MrHondoMan]

@@frankbruce6889, what part of the animal? Butt, back, shoulder, belly, side, neck, or unsure? If you are using vegtan, best to go with butt or back for a belt. Nothing else. These are the strongest and most durable parts. As far as thickness.... sorry lad, I live in Europe and we deal with millimeter not ounces.... use roughly 3-3.5mm. For the lining, down to less than 1mm. Most won't want a 5mm thick belt! No more than 3.85 for a belt unless specific request. As far as the wrinkles, if you are using two pieces of equal thickness, it sounds like you have poorly tanned leather or it's not 6 ounce, but perhaps less. Could also be belly or neck.

[@frankbruce6889]

@@MrHondoMan using the back. Total thickness of the belt is 4 - 4.5mm.

[@troyb6128]

There is a drop down guide for the class 4

[@danielholmberg1875]

Why would you only groove one side of the belt?

[@TexHoss1]

Dumb question here. That's looks like your glue table where you have talked about in the past where you use a piece of cardboard on it & let the glue dry. Does that dried glue scratch your linings & if it does does it scratch the leather bad enough that it shows bad?

[@TexHoss1]

@@maddawgnoll Yeah that's what I use but mine seems to get hard enough to scratch my linings on stuff. It does help hold things in place but I hate to get scratches on things even on the backside.

[@MountainFisher]

You line the butt end where there is no tooling to thin the leather down? I guess I'm doing it wrong, I only line the tooled area. Of course I don't have a sewing machine either, so less work. I don't see the point in lining the buckle end, it ends up being almost exactly the same thickness as my lined area. I've recently started buying 12-13 oz or 3/16th + thick Hermann Oak harness leather and don't have to line them at all.

[@GottliebGoltz]

Rite on. G-G

[@BastianKevin666]

Witch side of the leather are you putting together? Flesh to flesh? Or grain to flesh.

[@ronbrass]

I think I could smell that glue....

[@richardkatzman1215]

Don, I didn’t hear you say why you use the cardboard on the back of one of your belts and not the other. What is the reason for the cardboard? On the belt that you used the cardboard, you only attached it to part of the belt and not the entire belt, why is that? You’re the only leather craftsman that uses a piece of cardboard on the back of the belt. Can you explain that? Best regards, Richard

[@Thea_MojaveOutliersWhipmakers]

Baaahahahah! You should see MY cut bench. Granted your cut bench is enormous, so maybe your stuff is just spread out more... lol!

[@billnewman8261]

Where can I find a maul.

[@billnewman8261]

Where can I find a maul.

[@jackmoler9271]

I don't have a fancy sewing machine. I hand stitch everything.

[@twinx2982]

What do you mean by 9 10? " Thick?

[@kimjunjae]

What is the name of the tool used for skiving at 3:30 ? All the ones I see do the skiving in the other direction, not laterally like this