Author Topic: How to make belt smaller?  (Read 3890 times)

Offline Silver_Rings

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How to make belt smaller?
« on: July 13, 2017, 08:49:57 PM »
Pard has lost some weight and needs his gun belt made smaller, also his shotgun belt.  The gun belt is about 3 inches wide and tapers to about 1 1/4" to fit through the buckel.  Shotgun belt is the same.  Need to make belts about 3" shorter.

For a pardet who ordered a new shotgun belt over the winter and had it come in too long, belt was 3" tapers to 1 1/4, I trimmed the belt from 3" down to 1 2/4" about 2" sooner than it had been. 

I am looking for other options.

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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2017, 10:04:34 AM »
I only know two ways to shorten belts with tapered ends.

Assuming it has cartridge loops, you would have to cut a new taper at one or both ends and possibly remove a few of the loops. Re-stitch the edges if there is a stitch line. This method works with both lined and unlined belts.

The other way to do a lined belt is really not worth the effort in my opinion but it could be if someone has a sentimental attachment to the belt and is willing to pay for your effort. With a lined belt you could cut the belt at the center of the back and remove an inch or two from the outside of one end and the liner on the other end. Skive the ends so when you re-assemble it, you can glue those back together. That done, re-stitch the section top and bottom to prevent it from separating. If you are careful about where you make your first cut, the overlap seam will be right at the center of the back. If there are bullet loops all the way around, you would have to unstitch those first down one end and put them back after splicing the belt back together. In that case, make sure the amount you shorten it is equal to the length of 5 or 6 bullet loops. Also, if the loops are stitched between the layers, you would have to separate the two layers on the end where you remove the loops and stitch them back before putting the liner back on. If the two layers are glued together, you would have to separate them with solvent first. This method can be more work than making a whole new belt.

I hope this helps.

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Offline Capt Quirk

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2017, 10:29:35 AM »
I waited to see what the more experienced would have to say. My recommendation would be to go with a new belt, especially if it is carved and tooled. There really isn't an easy way around it, unless you go with a heavy liner. So, how attached are you to these belts?

I take that back, there is a real easy solution... start eating more ;)

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #3 on: Today at 05:31:21 AM »

Offline Silver_Rings

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2017, 07:00:42 PM »
The gun belt has no bullet loops.  I am considering cutting it at the center of the back and removing 2 to 3" and then using lace between the two ends. This way if he needs it larger down the road I can just put in longer laces. I believe he wears his belt with the buckle to the back with his ammo slide in the front which would cover the lace.  Do you see any problems with this?
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Offline Capt Quirk

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2017, 08:25:07 PM »
As long as there isn't any tooling to destroy, that could work. I am not sure how well the lacing would hold though, it isn't meant for load bearing.

Offline Silver_Rings

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2017, 09:16:10 PM »
I have chaps I made and they are held together with lace. I have not had any problems with the lace breaking. When I talked about lace I am talking about 1/4" wide leather strips.

SR
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2017, 11:58:30 PM »
Now that you bring it up, that could work fine with those leather shoe laces. It would be a bit more substantial that way.

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Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2017, 10:42:15 AM »

Cheeseburgers and French Fries with a Strawberry Shake (or Chocolate).

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Offline Capt Quirk

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2017, 11:00:06 AM »
Cheeseburgers and French Fries with a Strawberry Shake (or Chocolate).

Coffinmaker
I hafta agree... much easier to put the weight on. It happens whether you want it to or not sometimes ;)

Offline Major 2

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2017, 12:02:17 PM »
send it down to me...I'll hang it my wife's closet, things get smaller in there !  :o
when planets align...do the deal !

Offline Baltimore Ed

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2017, 12:04:30 PM »
I thought of this the other day but never posted. Why not cut it where the holsters hang. They would hide the cuts and you wouldn't disturb any shell loops and the front buckle would stay the same. Also any curve that the belt has developed wouldn't be changed. The liner could be cut in a slightly different spot from where you cut the belt and then spliced, glued and stitched. Just a thought.
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Offline Capt Quirk

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2017, 12:08:55 PM »
send it down to me...I'll hang it my wife's closet, things get smaller in there !  :o
Hmmm... maybe time to put the wife in the closet for a spell?

Offline Silver_Rings

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Re: How to make belt smaller?
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2017, 07:54:38 PM »
Thanks for the ideas, the cutting the belt where the Holsters sit is another option for me to consider.  The gun belt doesn't have any bullet loops so that makes it easier.

The shotgun belt maybe best done by shaving the sides of the tung to fit the buckel.  Right now he is trying to trade or sell the belts.

SR
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