How to Make Leather Belt Buckles

Have you ever wanted to make your own belt buckle, but don't have the tools or don't know how to make one out of metal? Are you interested in leather tooling? Follow the steps below to make your own belt buckle out of leather using basic tools.

Things You'll Need

• Leather cutting knife or heavy-duty scissors
• Glass or plastic container
• Leather preparation solution
• Clean towel or sponge
• Basic leather tool kit
• Marble slab or leather tooling surface
• Standard leather glue
• Leather stain (optional)

Instructions

1. Decide on the size and shape of your belt buckle. You must cut out a piece of leather for the project. Use a leather cutting knife or a pair of heavy-duty scissors to cut the piece out to the specifications you want for your buckle. Cut with a little excess to allow for shrinking and edge beveling.

2. Put the piece of leather in a glass or plastic container. Pour leather preparation solution in the container until it completely covers the leather. Place the container in your refrigerator overnight. This will allow the leather to completely soak and cool for optimum tooling results.

3. Remove the leather from the container. Lightly dry off the surface with a clean towel or sponge. Gather all of your tools. Place the leather on a marble slab or leather tooling surface.

4. Begin doing your initial cuts with a swivel knife. Begin with the edges and work your way inward. Complete all of your cuts, and resoak the leather with water or solution.

5. Begin tooling the leather as you desire. Start with bevels and work your way to the finer tooling. When tooling, don't try to affect too much leather at once. Work slowly, step by step, for the best results.

6. Gather your scrap leather, and cut out 1/3-inch strips that are 1/2-inch longer than the width of your buckle. Apply these strips to your buckle with leather glue by placing the ends on the horizontal edges of your buckle. Allow the glue to dry according to its directions.

7. Apply a stain to the buckle to get the look you want. You can find stains at most saddle and leather shops.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the leather very damp when swivel cutting and tooling. It will provide for cleaner embellishments.

• When tooling, hammer slowly and softly.

• Keep your swivel knife as sharp as possible for cleaner cuts.

• Use all knives, scissors and tools carefully. They can be very sharp.

• Watch your hands when using a hammer. Even a light hammer can smash a finger.

Resources

• eLeather Supply
• Tandy Leather