making a gladiator belt

[jvrjenivs]

Wouldn't it be easier to attach the leather first to the belt and then drill the holes and attach the hooks? At least this is how we have done it on our belts.

Hi Svenja, I've thought about that too. But, as I see it, the leather backing is to protect your body. There are two parts of the belt that can hurt you. The edge and the hooks. As the hooks go through the sheet of metal you want to drill those holes before stitching the leather on.

Secondly the leather backing will not cover the hook area on mine, but if it would, I also would say you don't want those rivets come through the leather and thus want to have attached them before the leather backing is added to the belt.