jedi belt tips

[Valgard Telash]

hi there, i want to make a jedi belt does anyone have any info, tutorials or tips pls? (bearing in mind i live in england so resorces are few! lol)

[Darth Lars]

There are a few resources and links to a couple of tutorials over on Padawan's Guide (http://www.padawansguide.com/belt.shtml).
I recommend that site for all items of the Jedi costume.
I made my belt without having done any leatherworking before.

Self-proclaimed experts who have built many belts claim that it has only one buckle in the front connecting the thin belt, and that is enough to keep it closed. The belt loops are not fastened to the broad belt.
If you choose to use as a buckle in the front something that does not open, then you need an additional buckle in the back.
Many people also use velcro in the back to help keep the broad belt straight.

Happy building!

[Sethski]

Good luck with the belt building and hope it turns out well.

As an aside, I noticed a bit ago leather jedi belts for sale in the UK pretty cheap (£25), here: http://www.jedi-robe.com/86,611,star_wars_costumes___adult.anakin_skywalker _costumes.Star_Wars_Anakin_Skywalker_Replica_Leath er_Jedi_Belt.html

Some of their stuff looks a bit crappy - the trench coat length jedi robes made me wince - but some looks OK, and these are actual leather for about the same as fake leather/"pleather" one's on eBay.

More power to you if you go ahead and make your own, I just wanted offer a heads up as I'd not realised how cheaply available these were til I came across them myself.

[LordJaivus]

I found that a simple SCA ring belt does the trick, especially for a pre-clone wars or KOTOR jedi.

[Jedi-Loreen]

Not if he's going for something more like canon Old Republic.

[Barmic Rin]

Good luck with the belt building and hope it turns out well.

As an aside, I noticed a bit ago leather jedi belts for sale in the UK pretty cheap (£25), here: http://www.jedi-robe.com/86,611,star_wars_costumes___adult.anakin_skywalker _costumes.Star_Wars_Anakin_Skywalker_Replica_Leath er_Jedi_Belt.html

Some of their stuff looks a bit crappy - the trench coat length jedi robes made me wince - but some looks OK, and these are actual leather for about the same as fake leather/"pleather" one's on eBay.

More power to you if you go ahead and make your own, I just wanted offer a heads up as I'd not realised how cheaply available these were til I came across them myself.

These aren't great, I grabbed one afew years back. My advice is find someone that makes leather good locally & get it custom made. I had mine made by a saddler in Devon & only cost me £30, which I thought was great until I found someone that quoted me £20!!

[Valgard Telash]

thanx guys, found a link from Jedi Loreen for Bowstock Leather in UK, can get all the bits i need for just under £19 inc postage. So ile dust off my leather punch and get cracking!!

thanx again

[Jedi coral]

jedi belts are not hard to make and can be made in around 30 minute at the most.i had the problem of finding the rein keepers so i used chicargo screws for my first belts.

[Jedi-Loreen]

Rein keepers? Never heard them called that.

I get my screw in button studs from http://hardwareelf.com/

And I get my generic metal side release buckles from http://www.strapworks.com/

And my leather, dyes and finishes from http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/


Here's one of my generic Jedi belts I've made:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/SUNP0021a.jpg

[Kal El Rah]

That's a really nice looking belt J-Lo:D

[taoist jedi]

That's a really nice looking belt J-Lo:D

indeed, that looks like a nice quality belt, good work.

[Jedi-Loreen]

Thanks.

I need to make a new keeper. The lady that I made this for lost the original keeper in the parking lot at C4 when she was taking off her belt. :roll: I don't think she's worn her Jedi costume since then.


Last year I also made a Darth Nihilus belt:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/SUNP0059.jpg

And a Luke Return of the Jedi belt:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/JediLoreen/Leather%20Work/SUNP0022.jpg

[cardcollector]

COOL!!!!
Google this I must...

[Valgard Telash]

just order'd the stuff, waiting for gud old parcel farce to deliver it, then the fun bit starts!
thanx for all the help so far, ile let you all know how its goin.

[Jedi coral]

one of many names i have heard them called as well as button studs and ball studs. i have since found a source for them here in tassie.

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

They are also sometimes referred to as Sam Browne buttons or Sam Browne studs...they are better than something like a flat-backed Chicago screw because the smooth rounded ball of the studs button has no edge to dig into or cause wear on the overbelt. They come in both 'rivet' style and screw-on-post style...having had a riveted one pop off I'd recommended the screw-on-post kind.

UK
http://www.kleins.co.uk/sam-brown-screw-stud-218-p.asp

US
http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37&products_id=982

[Jedi-Loreen]

And you don't want to use this style Sam Browne stud, it's a rivet that you need a special anvil for, and because of the way it flares out at the bottom, it doesn't hold the smaller strap well.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/image.aspx/media/images/product/1309-057-L.JPG-250x

I used them on my version 2 Jedi belt, so I know. That was before I found the screw in type.

[Col-mar]

I didn't get the anvil, Hide Crafter just didn't send it. I just used a wooden mallet and hammered lightly but firm enough to drive it down and the only issue is that the tops are some what flatten but still looks good.

[Valgard Telash]

Thanx for all the help guys, heres the finished product.

i decided to go with a 1" belt over a 2" belt (fancied something defferent)

the belt buckle was one i picked up a few years ago from a £ shop, i think it looks the part.

[Kal El Rah]

Well that came out great, Great work.8)

[jaiden_teed]

looking great valgard, an your right, that buckle looks spot on! :D

[Darth Leximus]

That looks great. It this kind of stuff that is what this forum is supposed to be about. You asked for some tips and applied what you were given along with your own skills and got something really nice out of it. Good job!

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

Nice belt and that buckle looks great!

[Jedi coral]

turned out great and i do like that buckle. i cant tell from the pics but did you round the edges? if you didn't it might pay to as they get a fair beating over time. also just get some boot polish/nugget and treat the edges (cheaper way) of if you have a little money by some tan and do it that way.

great job on the belt dude.

[Valgard Telash]

thanx for the help and comments guys, they realy were/are a great help,

i havent rounded the edges, but will do thanx for the heads up!

:D

[Jedi-Loreen]

It looks like you used a regular belt for the smaller strap. I would have removed the keeper loop thing, it looks strange with only one. I would have also done the wide strap wider to be more in proportion with the smaller belt, but that's me.

It still looks like a Jedi belt and it's cool that you made it yourself. :cool:

[Valgard Telash]

Thanx, i was going to use a wider strap but i couldnt find a strap wider than 2" (than won't cost me a bomb!). I have another keeper loop but ive gotta reduce it a little.