I have a hand skiver on order Tobus, but won't know till I get it if I can do more than 1" in width. I like the sandwich idea, that would be much better. I can skive the keeper with no problem when I get the tool. I should have it by week's end. Of course, that means making new keepers, but that is not a problem.

Thanks for the tip on the oval holes. I kind of like them like this, but will change back in the future. It seems to me I did it because the metal piece that goes through them is wide.

Frank

Quote Originally Posted by Tobus View Post
Ah, I see what you did with the keeper now. Interesting. What I might suggest, if you're fixing the keeper to the belt like that, is to put it between the belt leather. Basically, make a 'sandwich' out of it, where the belt leather is on the outside and the ends of the keeper are in between. This will be smoother against the wool of your kilt. Also, skiving down the turn-back side of the belt (especially near the end, tapering it down to a very thin profile) will help it lay flatter and have less snag points against your kilt.

As for the oval holes, typically those are done with the long axis of the oval running in-line with the belt, not perpendicular as you've done them. The reason oval holes are used on belts in the first place is so that the tongue of the buckle will lay down better as it comes through the hole. For this to work, the oval needs to be running parallel with the tongue.