The Correct Way to Attach Belt Buckles and Fittings
We sell plenty of belts, each with their own designs and details. But it's also possible to buy a leather belt and belt fitting separately and create your own design.
You can choose the buckle, the end piece and the fitting of your preference and attach them to the bare belt.
Depending on the type of belt buckles and fittings, the way of attachment to the belt differs.
Pin and Ring Buckle
A belt buckle with a pin and ring closure is attached to the end of a belt without the belt being threaded through it. The buckle usually has 3 pins on the inside that go through the leather belt.
What do you need?
-Leather belt
-Leather awl or pliers
-Belt buckle (with the corresponding rings)
-Pen or marker
-Utility knife
-Glue
How to attach a pin and ring buckle:
Step 1:
Make a notch in one end of the leather belt and make sure it's in the middle of the belt. This doesn't need to be deep, about 3 mm should be sufficient. This notch allows the buckle tongue to move freely once the buckle is attached.
Step 2:
Place the buckle on the leather to check where the buckle pins sit on the belt. Mark these points with a pen.
Step 3:
Use the leather awl or pliers to make holes through the belt where you've marked the pin placement
Step 4:
Place the buckle back on the belt, with the pins in the holes. Turn the belt over.
Drop a small amount of glue into each hole, on the end of the pins, and press the rings into the hole. Press them firmly.
Step 6:
Measure where you want your belt holes to be. You can measure this by hand or use another well-fitting belt as a template. Make sure there's at least 1.25 cm between each hole. Mark the position of the hole with a pen or marker.
Use the pliers or leather awl to make holes at the marked locations.
If you want to further decorate your belt with a belt end and/or belt fitting, this works in a similar way. Measure and mark where you want the decorative hardware (for a belt end, mark where the pins of the belt end go). Use the pliers or leather awl to make the holes in the belt. Push the pin of the hardware into the hole, turn the belt over and drop a bit of glue in the hole. Push the end cap into the hole and wait for the glue to dry.
Standard Buckle
A standard belt buckle is attached to the belt by threading the belt through the buckle and folding it around the buckle.
What do you need?
-Leather belt
-Leather awl or pliers
-Utility knife
-Buckle
-Pen or marker
-Rivets
-Glue
How to attach a standard buckle:
Step 1:
Mark where the buckle tongue and rivets need to go through the leather.
The belt doesn't need to overlap too much, just enough so that the holes for the rivet don't land exactly on the edge of the belt or too close to where the slot for the tongue needs to be. Generally, an overlap of 3 to 4 cm should be sufficient.
The slot for the belt tongue should go over the curve of the folded belt. The holes for the rivet should each be placed at the same distance from the slot, one on each side.
Step 2:
Use a leather awl or pliers to make holes in the leather. To make the slot for the belt tongue, you can overlap the awl or pliers for an oval hole, or you can cut it with a utility knife.
Step 3:
Thread the end of the belt through the buckle and push the buckle tongue through the slot in the belt. Fold the end of the belt around the buckle, under itself. Make sure the holes on either side of the slot line up.
Step 4:
Push the open halves of the rivets into the holes on the top of the belt. Turn the belt over and drop some glue into the holes. Push the other end of the rivet into the hole and let the glue dry.
Click here for our collection of buckles and belt fittings
