Duke Mantee

… it wasn’t funny the first time you said it … 😂

Looks like we have the winner …

Marvellous news @UkeNo - congratulations

… even better news that @MJF9 will fill it with cash

@ALB - that was a really nice project - a good way to have those buckles, which you can’t buy from normal routes, fitted on to some enduring veg tan 3 years ago:

One from the final ‘production’ run … and f-ck me it’s another one of those ACE buckles 😋 (note the humorous emoticon @Double 0 Soul), albeit I’ve swapped out their acrylic jewels for real turquoise I know this is isn’t my thread nor is it (was) my shop but I might do a little ‘class’ in belt making here - just something to let folk better understand some of the aspects, the shortcuts taken, the myths busted etc. Maybe it’ll keep the thread alive a little bit longer if folk want contribute or chip in some questions or queries?

Ridiculously kind mate … you clearly have no idea who you’re dealing with. Although I’ve not posted much, I’ve been watching competition closely. There’s been some great evo already and a lot of brilliant posts so it’s going to the wire to see who has pulled out all the stops … maybe we can add another prize

🙇‍♂️

Thank you … thank you very much indeed. I mentioned somewhere here earlier, I’ve made a couple of hundred belts after hoping I might have made a couple - full stop … you (and others) put your trust and hard earned dollars into my project - I remember every single belt for every single reason, that’s my privilege

@julian-wolf asked me to make this for him It’s probably appropriate that the belts began and end here on the forum. I’m finishing off current orders, but the shop is now closed. Huge thanks to everyone here for their interest and support.

Another variation of the mini trucker - this time in harness leather for the shell and crust for the innards, oh and different snaps

Another of those ACE Western buckles - they get them made special so I’m informed

Russian calf as an accessory for the belt I just posted

No studs … just two needles and one piece of thread to bind two bits of leather into a 6.5mm thick beast

Probably enough of these antique studs for a couple more designs

Congrats on the commission and well done on the job 👍

I got one of those too telling me about the potential for massive growth - I told them I was in my 60s and sent a dicpic to show them how wrong they were

Demand is dying out - nobody wants to buy a sterile, over thought out and fussy belt 😉 (see? I’m learning 😄)

Yep - and no But I can’t be arsed pursuing other ‘options’ - as I said, it was never about money. I’ll pass my time with wallets and bags. I enjoy spending the time; it’s a different type of project and the bigger items can take a week or more so you really get your teeth into it

Thank you very very much for that

Standard Rivet were ‘the’ suppliers - almost right back to the earliest days. There’s another company, SX Industries, who make similar … similar isn’t the same (sizes and specs), plus they’re not geared to tiny business - pretty big minimum orders on stuff you need, but don’t need much of; for example I could buy 1000 spots which would do maybe 4 or 5 belts, but the ring spots (for jewels) are also 1000 min which is closer to 100 belts 🤷‍♂️

3 and half years ago after a fair bit of chat and a lot of encouragement from my mate @Flash I started making belts with some purpose. The purpose was that I had retired to look after my little girl who has multiple disabilities and in intervening hours I wanted to do something to slow down brain atrophy coupled with the fact that I’d bought a Warehouse belt which transpired to be shit. Since then, and much to my very genuine surprise, I’ve now made a little over 200 belts … slightly better than 1 belt every week. That’s the extent of my ‘business’. Each belt is made to the requirements and specifications set out by the customer. Each belt is made entirely by hand - no electrically or manually operated machines whatsoever. Skiving, edge bevelling, burnishing and the like are done according to how I ‘read’ each piece of leather being used. I have never made the same belt twice - some are similar, but respectfully that’s down to the request and invariably there will still be fundamental differences. Because every belt is different, there is no easy way (or wish) to standardise the process or materials. This also means I cannot easily plan ahead or take advantage of cost savings in ‘bulk’ purchasing. In terms of the money I ‘make’ from this enterprise - I charge exactly what I pay for any materials and add the honest number hours labour (at UK minimum wage). If I take a picture of a belt - I’ll normally display it here, and post it on IG (if the owner allows). I guess that can be considered as advertising but I don’t look for new opportunities or sales. If I’m asked, I’m asked, if I’m not then it makes no difference - I’ve just explained that it’s not a source of income that makes any substantive impact on household income, even if it was predictable. Because Standard Rivet has closed down I can no longer replenish my studs/spots, so my ‘business’ will soon close down … that should be good news to Miho at ACE But anyway, thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their hard earned, I hope I’ve never let you down.

This all depends on how hard you want to work for your money. Social media allows people to gain vast tracts of information in mere seconds … of course in those fleeting moments they’ve gained next to no actual knowledge, but who cares about that? I like the forums because I get the feeling there’s a little bit more effort from contributors … mostly.