Reviving an old leather belt

[John Fenna]

I was thinking of recycling an old leather belt that I made years ago from 3mm veg tan - but then got creative!
The belt was one of my first leather-crafting projects and has a certain amount of sentimental value - but it had gone a bit soft and stretched around the point that it flexes most and gets the most strain ... where the buckle fastens around my expanding gut!
I was thinking of cutting off the buckle, binning the leather and re-making the belt ... but that meant lots of work and loss of the original work/memories etc.
Then I thought - can I re-stiffen the leather?
Soooo - long story short - I rubbed an old candle stub over the back of the belt and melted the (scented) wax into the leather with a hot air gun. I repeated this several times, working on the face of the belt as well and Lo and Behold! a newly stiffened belt!
No great amount of investment (the candle was due for remaking as a fire lighter), loss of leather, loss of memories, investment of time etc etc, just a newly tidy belt
No point in photos of the belt - it is just a belt - but I hope this post is of use to others as a way of avoiding having to bin any leather

 

[crosslandkelly]

Nice Idea John.

 

[decorum]

I rubbed an old candle stub over the back of the belt and melted

John, please tell me that you didn't use a non drip candle :yikes:


And that it was PINK .

 

[John Fenna]

John, please tell me that you didn't use a non drip candle :yikes:


And that it was PINK .

Actually it was purple....

 

[Coldfeet]

Thanks for sharing John. Is there any wax residue on the belt now, or has it all been soaked up?

 

[ozzy1977]

Great idea, I have an old belt that has gone a little squidgy l may have to give this a go.

 

[John Fenna]

Thanks for sharing John. Is there any wax residue on the belt now, or has it all been soaked up?

All soaked in - and giving a great polish too!

 

[Mesquite]

Actually it was purple....

Hmmm... Could that be the theme colour for this years Christmas gifts?