I'm a new member who just received his first kilt yesterday - so I'm sure this idea isn't new - but I thought I'd try to post a pic of my $16 kilt belt. It's a Husky 2" leather tool belt from Home Depot ($9.90). Just add leather dye ($4.95) from the shoe store, two or three coats of shoe polish, some elbow grease, and wait a couple of days for the gosh awful smell to settle down.
Many have talked about it but noone has posted a good photo like that. Thanks. It turned out really well.
Thanks Cavscout I forgot to mention - I included a piece of the extra long belt inside the finished belt to show the color before dying.
The belt looks great. Did you really need shoe polish, in addition to the leather dye? I've never dyed leather, so I have no idea. I'd be worried about the polish rubbing off on my clothes.
Virtus Ad Aethera Tendit
Hi Bob Yup - the guy at the shoe repair palce said the polish seals the leather - so the dye won't rub off. It also puts a shine on the belt, otherwise it looks dull. I'm sure there a plenty here that know a lot more about leather work than me - so I won't pretend to be an expert - I'm NOT!
Thats a great looking belt. I've seen them before,but I never thought of dying one. It's something to think about. I use one of the 3" belts with my Workmans Utilikilt.
I like that Phil. Great picture and a follow through of a great idea.
Glen McGuire A Life Lived in Fear, Is a Life Half Lived.
Creativity Carries The Day Again Nice Job
Great idea, Phil. It turned out well.
What I did was take the raw pink leather belt and used brown shoe polish which has some pigment in it thus giving me a lighter brown than you have. The color soaks in in differant rates in differant spots on the leather giving me a "distressed" look to my belt so that new it apears quite old. If you want a smooth color use a leather dye and "Neutrial" shoe polish. Another 3 inch wide belt is the military pistol belt, the old cotton ones can be dyed any color in the rainbow and the brass can be polished to a near chrome color. New pistol belts can be bought like that.
Last edited by Sir Robert; 31st December 05 at 06:11 AM. Reason: spelling
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