Sporran Strap

[Friday]

Have you checked in the women's wear areas of the stores you frequent. They often have thin leather belts. Depending on your waist size you might be able to find one that will pass through the keepers on the back of your sporran and buckle behind you. Or you could get two buckle in the front behind the sporran and at your back.

I have seen some belts that were reversible and for travel your could have both a black and brown belts.

[artificer]

Have you checked in the women's wear areas of the stores you frequent. They often have thin leather belts. Depending on your waist size you might be able to find one that will pass through the keepers on the back of your sporran and buckle behind you. Or you could get two buckle in the front behind the sporran and at your back.

I have seen some belts that were reversible and for travel your could have both a black and brown belts.

I've said this before, but the big warning with inexpensive belts is that they frequently have square profile edges. It's not a big deal with pants where the belt stays in one place, but there is more movement when you wear them with a kilt and sporran, so you run the risk of that edge wearing into your wool.

The issue is that many low-cost belts (and even some more expensive ones) are made of two layers of leather sewn together. This wouldn't be an problem if the edges were treated properly, but many manufacturers don't/can't do a proper edge finish where the leather is burnished round and smooth. The two edges are stitched together, then an 'edge dressing' is applied. It's basically a thick paint, almost like vinyl 'tool dip'. This creates the illusion of a finished edge, but if you look closely the actual edge of the leather is square with this goop applied over it.

The other thing I've seen with edge dressing (specifically on one of my wife's handbags) is that the stuff can get gummy over time. She had a purse where the edge dressing ended up getting sticky brown streaks all over an ivory wool coat, right where the shoulder strap rode.

ith:

[kiltedrennie]

I've said this before, but the big warning with inexpensive belts is that they frequently have square profile edges. It's not a big deal with pants where the belt stays in one place, but there is more movement when you wear them with a kilt and sporran, so you run the risk of that edge wearing into your wool.

The issue is that many low-cost belts (and even some more expensive ones) are made of two layers of leather sewn together. This wouldn't be an problem if the edges were treated properly, but many manufacturers don't/can't do a proper edge finish where the leather is burnished round and smooth. The two edges are stitched together, then an 'edge dressing' is applied. It's basically a thick paint, almost like vinyl 'tool dip'. This creates the illusion of a finished edge, but if you look closely the actual edge of the leather is square with this goop applied over it.

The other thing I've seen with edge dressing (specifically on one of my wife's handbags) is that the stuff can get gummy over time. She had a purse where the edge dressing ended up getting sticky brown streaks all over an ivory wool coat, right where the shoulder strap rode.

ith:

Thanks for the tips. I've been looking for solid strap belts at the local thrift shop but haven't found anything I like. I wasn't aware of the goop. Fortunately, I've been avoiding multi-layer belts, but for the esthetics. Does anyone make chainless sporran straps that don't cost an arm and/or leg? A search on Google hasn't produced anything yet. Perhaps by search-fu is weak.

<EDIT>
I see that you make/sell them, but without a price I assume they are above my pay grade. However, I shouldn't assume, so I guess I'm asking.
</EDIT>

[Kilt-alope]

I had made this one for me, because I had the image in mind of what I wanted and couldn't find it online. I could make and sell/trade one similar if you are interested. I posted it on here to say, "isn't this cool!"

[kiltedrennie]

I had made this one for me, because I had the image in mind of what I wanted and couldn't find it online. I could make and sell/trade one similar if you are interested. I posted it on here to say, "isn't this cool!"

Thanks for the offer. I'm going to give it a go myself to see how it turns out. If it doesn't, maybe we can make a trade of some kind. :-)

[Kilt-alope]

Sounds like a plan, good luck.

[georgeetta]

the weave is cool I also like the shape of the sporran kinda what I am hoping to make ..

th
d

[Friday]

Have you checked in the women's wear areas of the stores you frequent. They often have thin leather belts. Depending on your waist size you might be able to find one that will pass through the keepers on the back of your sporran and buckle behind you. Or you could get two buckle in the front behind the sporran and at your back.

I have seen some belts that were reversible and for travel your could have both a black and brown belts.

I've said this before, but the big warning with inexpensive belts is that they frequently have square profile edges. It's not a big deal with pants where the belt stays in one place, but there is more movement when you wear them with a kilt and sporran, so you run the risk of that edge wearing into your wool.

ith:

Edits below:

Artificer thank you for the information. However, I find post #6 informative but not every helpful. It appears that kiltedrennie

but without a price I assume they are above my pay grade.

has a problem similar to mine a very limited budget.

When working my money was tight, now that I am retired it seems to have disappeared.

My complaint with this and many comments finding fault with another's post. DON'T JUST FIND FAULT but provide realistic solutions especially for those of us on a tight budget. I have a number of Artificer's sporrans on my drool/win the lottery list, but the cost is above my pay grade (I have no doubt they are well worth the price). So if I can't afford an Artificer sporran belt what do I do?

Save - OK so I start saving, what do i do with my sporran (my fathers) while I wait for the coin jar to fill? Should I carry it as a clutch purse? While saving how do I hide the amount in the jar from my wife and car. They both seem to know exactly how much is in the jar when they have a greater need.

How do I adapt and over come on a limited budget?

[frank_a]

If I know what length you want, I could make you a sporran belt in black or brown. As Artificer notes, you want to make sure your belt edges are chiseled to protect your kilt. I do that on all my belts, whether sporran, kilt, or regular day wear. All my belts are 8-9 oz leather, and I don't do any fancy stuff (carving, etc.). PM me if yer interested.

Frank

[artificer]

Edits below:

Artificer thank you for the information. However, I find post #6 informative but not every helpful. It appears that kiltedrennie

has a problem similar to mine a very limited budget.

When working my money was tight, now that I am retired it seems to have disappeared.

My complaint with this and many comments finding fault with another's post. DON'T JUST FIND FAULT but provide realistic solutions especially for those of us on a tight budget. I have a number of Artificer's sporrans on my drool/win the lottery list, but the cost is above my pay grade (I have no doubt they are well worth the price). So if I can't afford an Artificer sporran belt what do I do?

Save - OK so I start saving, what do i do with my sporran (my fathers) while I wait for the coin jar to fill? Should I carry it as a clutch purse? While saving how do I hide the amount in the jar form my wife and car. They both seem to know exactly how much is in the jar when they have a greater need.

How do I adapt and over come on a limited budget?

Friday- fwiw I'm NOT saying you can't find a decent strap in the women's section, I know some people have done so with success. I'm simply pointing out what to beware of. It's not 'fault finding', but hopefully preventing someone from making a potentially disastrous and expensive mistake that causes irreparable harm to a good kilt while looking for an 'economy solution' on their sporran strap. If you wish to investigate the possibilities of a repurposed women's belt, by all means do so- but now you can do so with the knowledge of what to look for and look OUT for (and avoid).


Forewarned is Forearmed.

BTW: If you've got a sharp razor, good straight edge, steady hand (and a quick trip to tandy for a chicago screw and smaller buckle) you can make a sporran strap out of a used gent's belt if you find one of good quality harness leather (which is dyed through, so the cut-edge won't show). Then you can burnish the new edge with a bit of water and a piece of dowel.

Good luck, and let us know how the search goes!
ith: