your opinions on kilt belt and sporran

[mudd]

I Like it!

A full body picture would be nice.

How do you paint a metal buckle?

[warwick]

How do you paint a metal buckle?

I don't know what metal the buckle is made of, but it had a smooth "silver" finish. I used a scotch pad to rough up the surface. Then i used a degreaser(probably xylene) to remove dust, oil, finger prints. Let it dry, then i used a can of krylon ultra flat black spray paint. I used light coats at first, spraying at an angle on all four sides. The celtic knot work is hard to get good coverage. After several light coats i sprayed two heavy coats. I can't say if the paint will hold up, i haven't worn the belt that much. I hope it will wear some on the high spots, should have a nice look. Hopefully it will not peel or chip, however if it dose i can touch it up.

Why did you cut the buckles off and go to pins?

This is my first and only kilt. I chose a stillwater economy so i could get use to wearing a kilt( this took about 30 seconds ) without much investment. I ordered my kilt for my winter waist. After shedding a few inches i ran out of strap. During this time i grew to hate the buckles, so instead of moving them i cut everything off. I like the military safety pins for the convenience and comfort. When i work on my jeep or in the yard i wear the kilt higher on my ribs and above my knee. When i wear the kilt as casual outfit i wear it at my natural waist and at my knee. When i wear the kilt around the house i wear it low on my hips and below my knee. The pins allow me to fine tune the fit so all three position are possible and comfortable.

How did you affix the buckle?

If you have never worn/seen a US pistol belt or a kilt belt buckle this will not make any sense.

I used the newer pistol belt with plastic "snap" buckle[ pic here ] and i did all my work on the female buckle [left side]

The metal "lock" for the alligator clamp needs to be removed. I pried it open on the bottom, then you can open it up enough to remove it from the belt. After opening the end snap and aligator clamp you have to feed the belt end through the alligator clamp [the hard part of this project] keep at it will go through. then feed the belt end through the female buckle. now feed your kilt buckle onto the belt, then feed the female buckle back on. Take note of both buckles position so they don't go on backwards or upside down. Feed the end back through the alligator clamp [grrrr stupid thing] have a Guinness and a smoke then finish feeding the nylon thing through the metal thing. Put the metal "lock" back on and close the metal strap, if the metal strap fatigues and snaps i think epoxy or jbweld should hold it.

or

Use a pair of dikes to cut the strap post [at the base] on the back of the kilt belt. slide it through the loop between the aligator clamp and female buckle. Then sodder,epoxy or jbweld the post back to the buckle. I decided against doing it this way. I wasn't sure if the metal strap would fatigue, also i didn't think it would hold up to the last step.

Take both buckles and rotate them back on the belt. Rotate the kilt buckle forward and put the hook over the nylon buckle. When you put the belt on the male buckle helps the kilt buckle "lock" in place.

Once you have the belt and kilt buckle in front of you it will make sense. The snaps are a pain to get throught alligator clamp. However i think the fifteen to twenty minutes it takes is worth it