Worn out my kilt?!?!?!?

[cavscout]

Assuming your belt edges are essentially squared off, you wold first want to bevel the edge. Tandy sells edge bevelers of various sizes. This begins the rounding process by slicing off the sharp corner edge. We're not talking a drastic rounding. This is a very subtle radius, just enough to blunt the edge. The beveler will only take off a thin sliver of leather.

If the belt edges are not dyed to match the belt, you may want to dye the edges.

Then Burnish the edges which is a fancy way of saying rub them smooth. There are many ways to do this but essentially you want it to be a smooth rounded edge when your done. Essentially all your doing is getting the short edge fibers to lay down smooth. Using bees wax or other edge treatments will help and somewhat seal the edge but some will just use hot water and elbow grease. A piece of burlap or denim is often used to do the rubbing. You'll spend a lot of time and effort on this phase and this step is why the price of a none-edge treated belt and an edge treated belt are so different.

Once the edge is round and smooth, you can coat the edge with one of several edge seals or coats.

There are power tools that will do a lot of this faster but I decided I could either spend time maintaining belt making machines or making quality belts using hand tools and opted for the later

[seanachie]

Assuming your belt edges are essentially squared off, you wold first want to bevel the edge. Tandy sells edge bevelers of various sizes. This begins the rounding process by slicing off the sharp corner edge.

If the belt edges are not dyed to match the belt, you may want to dye the edges.

Then Burnish the edges which is a fancy way of saying rub them smooth. There are many ways to do this but essentially you want it to be a smooth rounded edge when your done. Essentially all your doing is getting the short edge fibers to lay down smooth. Using bees wax or other edge treatments will help and somewhat seal the edge but some will just use hot water and elbow grease. A piece of burlap or denim is often used to do the rubbing. You'll spend a lot of time and effort on this phase and this step is why the price of a none-edge treated belt and an edge treated belt are so different.

Once the edge is round and smooth, you can coat the edge with one of several edge seals or coats.

There are power tools that will do a lot of this faster but I decided I could either spend time maintaining belt making machines or making quality belts using hand tools and opted for the later

And the quality of Steve's product is fantastic. I have one of his sporran belts and it not only displays the craftsmanship he details here, but is thick and strong and the clips are strong. Definitely a worthwhille investment and a good looking accessory.

[iustus]

I am sympathetic to your feeling on the wear and tear, and at the same time, I agree with David... this is both a success and to a bit of a bummer.

(I have perhaps mentioned this story once before, sorry if I am repeating myself.)

I used to live in a community of contemplatives, we were the 2nd floor of the building while the SSF (Franciscans) were the 1st floor. One of the old friars used ask me to practice my piping outside his window, (I played on the sidewalk next to the building into the traffic at 5pm.) One day a package came for him, and he asked me to bring it in. Big box of stuff. He had two kilts and a mess of highland this and thats in there. One was a MacLeod of the Isles his family tartan the other was a Clergy tartan in Modern, which looked relatively new (he was a priest though went by Br.) The MacLeod was a bit frayed at the bottom, he said he used to be a Boy Scout. I mention how the Clergy Tartan was in such nice shape and he mention, "This one is the second. The one I was ordained in; under my cassock, under my alb, under my vestments ofcourse... it wore out." I asked him how it had worn out, he said, "By wearing it ofcourse." He then warned me of the struggles of wearing a kilt under the cassock... "it kills the selvedge, but is good for the soul."
He's never in them anymore due to wearing the habit and infirmity... I'd bet he'd be wrapped up in one of them under his habit if he could.

Thanks for the heads up on belts and finishes everybody.

peace,
justin

[Kiltman]

Yes the back side of a belt can do some damage. I make my belts with the soft side of velcro and it seems to help. I first started doing this because the leather I had was thin and I wanted to have a thicker belt. Also some leather is stretchy and so I use it to stabilize the leather.