Forging a belt buckle and cutting a leather belt. No power tools. Open the full video description for more information. 



A alternative buckle design.

 

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Materials: Mild steel, cow leather, pine tar and fish oil. 



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This was the first time I made a belt design like this and need to use it some more before starting to consider improving it - though would I personally in case of a next time consider attaching the buckle with needle and cord or riveting it on instead of cutting into the belt itself and avoid that relative "weak spot". 



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A few quick questions:



1. What did you add to the steel and leather? 

50/50 mixture of pine tar and fish oil/fat. Apples it a few times on the relative hot steel to get the black color and a rust protecting layer. Add it to the leather a few times and let it dry a few hours in between to make it softer and more water resistent.



2. First time I see you use this set up... Is the shop permanent? 

No - it is just a temporary set up. I will use it for about two months before moving it to a new location.



3. Why stone on the bellow?

It is a way to adjust the air flow. The more weight/stones you add the more air the forge get.



4. Do you sell?

No.



5. Where did you get the bellow?

Old one I bought in Denmark a few weeks ago and restored (new leather and valves). About 130 years old. 



6. Why not make the common buckle design?

No specific reason  -  I have just wanted for a while to give this alternative design a try. 



7. I want to try making one... do you have some advice? 

Yes. 1. Make the hook relative long. 2. Make the gab in the hook conical so the leather get jammed tighter and tighter the more you pull in the belt..... If you don"t get those two points right will the belt way too easy be able to open random on it"s own and be useless as a functional belt. 3. forge thin and small. 

  

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Location: Sapmi - borrowed property, my own blacksmithing tools.



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Video gear: Canon EOS RP, Canon 50 1.8, Røde videomicpro+, iMovie.  



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