New 2-inch belt arrived yesterday!

**kilted_brewer** · 9th March 07, 08:40 AM

If you saw this post from a while back, you know I've been looking for a good, inexpensive kilt belt I could use with the kilt buckles I already had (and would like to interchange), which have a 1.5" buckle ring.

Originally Posted by Richland

I have modified Belt Buckles with a wider wire loop for wide leather with Heavy duty coat hanger wire. Works Fine. Takes abot 15 min just remove the old loop and bend the coat hanger wire to the required shape and insert in to the back of the buckle.

First, I tried a coat hanger fix that allowed me to use the buckle in that post with a 2.25" kilt belt, but it popped off the buckle a couple of times. I next tried a fix by making a couple of small slits in the leather of the belt to fit the 1.5" buckle ring. That fix worked fine, except that it damaged the relatively inexpensive belt. And the belt was still black, and didn't match the comfortable Doc Martens oxfords, or the hiking boots, just the less-comfortable black square-toe loafers.

Originally Posted by Moosedog

Rob--

If you'd like to use that buckle on a wider belt, it should be possible to make/have made a belt that is narrower just at the buckle area but wider everywhere else. If it is made precisely to fit you it should look great.

Moosedog

Here's the result of my quest to find a 2" belt that could accomdate my very small collection of favorite buckles. I went back the place where I got the buckle, and eventually, they put me in touch with their belt-maker, who made this belt for me

Here it is on—excuse the self-timer photo (with youngest in backpack)

Here's the not-not buckle end, showing the taper to fit through the buckle ring

Here's the buckle end with keeper.

I'm really pleased with it (I've finally got a brown belt I can wear with my brown shoes), though I think if I were to get another, I'd ask for a wider keeper strip (it's 1/4" now), maybe 1/2", and also ask for another keeper strip for symmetry on the left side (looking down) of the buckle.

I've written the craftsman who made the belt to tell him how pleased I am with it, and encouraged him to check out X-Marks, in case there are more members in my situation: with some nice buckles that won't fit their kilt belts.

Let me know what you all think! (and thanks, Moosedog, for the idea)

**Big Dave** · 9th March 07, 09:18 AM

Looks good. My first Kilt belt was a brown leather one from Home Depot, it lasted me for almost 2 years till I desided to hack it apart to fit one of my belt buckles

.

By the way, great buckle.

**cavscout** · 9th March 07, 09:36 AM

Very nice job.

**Tartan Hiker** · 9th March 07, 10:32 AM

That's a great solution to the age-old problem of "narrow buckle blues". There are so many cool Celtic buckles out there designed for the 1 3/4" standard belt, amd with snaps you can swap them easily. Good job!

**cloves** · 9th March 07, 11:26 AM

great looking belt and very clever!

**Moosedog** · 9th March 07, 11:42 AM

I'm glad it worked so well! It looks great on you...

I've made a few of these for myself as for daily wear I prefer about a TRUE 1 3/4"-2" belt (not one that is made for a 1 3/4 inch buckle which is a bit narrower, like dimensional lumber.) It gets dicey if you are trying to shave off just a hair but if you are starting from scratch or taking at least 1/8" inch or so off each side it works well.

Take care,
Moosedog

**RCallan** · 9th March 07, 08:42 PM

Be careful....there is a small hand trying to reach you through the back of you LEFT shoulder!
Looks like one of those "kid spiders"....

I've got one of those too lurking around the house.....

Oh...and the belt looks great!

**cloves** · 18th March 07, 02:12 PM

Cavscout, can you do this type of thing?? How wide a belt can be cut down realistically to fit a 1.5 inch buckle? I suspect there's an upper limit on how much you can cut off before the belt looses it's integrity??

**cessna152towser** · 18th March 07, 02:20 PM

Looking good.

**cavscout** · 18th March 07, 07:13 PM

I can do that for you Cloves. I'd like to see a few pics of the pieces you need modified as we talk about what you'd like to do so I can look for any thing that might be an issue (matching or improving an edge treatment, adding holes, issues with existing detail work, etc....)

I'd say the main consideration on how extreme of a trim to try would be cosmetics. So whatever looks good to you. We can always put a shorter keeper on the belt to hold the loose end snuggly rather than have a 1" wide end wiggling around in a 3" wide keeper.

Drop me a note and we can talk in more detail when you're ready.