- Joined
- Jul 26, 2011
- Messages
- 4,142
The method of joining the belt is the standard way of doing it. Failing to have the necessary parts to do it yourself,drilled holes and naked copper wire about 12 gauge can be used to sew the ends of the belt together should you need to shorten or replace it. Put the suede side of the leather against the pulley. Cut shallow grooves in the belt on the pulley contact side to avoid hearing the clicking sound when the belt is rotating. Don't cut into the hair side. Most of the strength of the leather is on the hair side,so don't groove it. It doesn't matter of the copper wire is proud on the outside of the belt since it doesn't touch anything in rotating. Secure the end of the copper wire by twisting it together on the outside of the belting.
The alternative is to skive the belt and glue it together with hide glue. The liquid stuff is fine. Skive the belt to about 1 1/2" long angle. Getting the belt the correct length is trickier when skiving. Allow for shortening the belt 3" if you decide to skive 1 1/2" on each side.
I prefer to just sew it,as leather keeps stretching so much. The process has to be repeated.
You can also go to a rubber supply store and get a more modern material,like fabric impregnated with rubber belting. Sew it the same way.
The alternative is to skive the belt and glue it together with hide glue. The liquid stuff is fine. Skive the belt to about 1 1/2" long angle. Getting the belt the correct length is trickier when skiving. Allow for shortening the belt 3" if you decide to skive 1 1/2" on each side.
I prefer to just sew it,as leather keeps stretching so much. The process has to be repeated.
You can also go to a rubber supply store and get a more modern material,like fabric impregnated with rubber belting. Sew it the same way.