How to: make double straps

I thought i would make this tutorial to show how to make a set of double straps as cheaply as possible and more importantly, comprising as many recycled materials as possible. Let me know what you think. Bigger photos on my flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/39485211@N02/

tools and materials[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
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• Drill + smallish drill bit
  
• pop rivet gun and pop rivets and 2 rivet washers
  
• sharp knife
  
• straight edge/ruler
  
• 4 x old straps
  
• 1 old belt (must be relatively thick and of a suitable width. mine = 3mm thick and 35mm wide)
  
  

all tools and rivets can be easily obtained from your local hardware store or god forbid the big orange one!

1. Drill through old rivets on the old straps, from the front to the back to remove the buckles from the strap[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]2. Using the old strap as a guide, measure and mark the width/length of the straps on the belt[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]3. Using the straight edge/ruler cut the leather along the marks. (make sure you press hard with the ruler to stop it slipping, the best technique for cutting the leather is to make gradual cuts getting deeper and deeper, as it is the most accurate and safest way)[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]4. Fit up the buckles to the belt, centre punch (score with a screw driver) to show where to drill[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   
   

[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]5. Drill the belt (use a normal rill bit, the size of the rivet and smaller than the buckle hole)[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]

[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]6. Refit the buckles[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]7. Press the rivets through, from top to bottom with the long "tail" pointing upwards" fit the rivets (technique and tool use can be seen here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onVeVwat_tg
)[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]

[/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]8. Finish the ends however you wish, i used diagonal cuts to make threading easier

To make the strap guide

1. Wrap the belt round the two straps, mark and cut.[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]2. Fold over and drill two holes at either end on the edge[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]3. Rivet the leather together, however this time use a rivet washer on the reverse to allow the rivet to bind.[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]
   [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]4. Repeat to make the matching pair!
   
   

Fit the straps. Have a Beer. Go Ride[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]

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wow 5 gold stars!!!!!

Thanks for putting that up - they look good.

Does the quality/how well they hold depend on the quality of the original strap buckles? or does having x 2 buckles make them a bit better if they were average before?

even average/cheap strap buckles will hold well, its not too much of an issue

great job. will give this a go. thanks.

awesome stuff - never thought about using an old belt - but it sounds perfect when you think about it

just remembered this thread, here are the straps after 3 weeks hard wear

not any noticable stretching/fraying so all in all very pleased with how they have lasted

nice one!

Hey - just spent the day making a pair of these.

I did mine slightly differently as I remember someone saying that its better for the buckles to sit on the leather rather than at the end.

Also one of the old set of straps I had didn't have the little metal bit:

... so I made a fastening by folding over a peice of leather and riveting thru that. WHAT EVER YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU USE STRAPS WITH THE LITTLE METAL BIT.

Folding the leather means there are 3 peices of leather for the rivet to go thru. To get around this, you'll have to carefuly cut it thiner so the rivet can fit.... and a washer still can't go on the back.

If you have an overlap instead of the buckles at the end you should use rivets the way skelator has here:

.... a few general points:

1) if you can afford it get a half decent rivet gun instead of a shit one and use decent rivets;
2) make sure you get rivets that are long enough (esp. if you have an overlap);
3) its prob best to stick to skelator's instructions instead of being clever and doing it your own way;
4) make sure you have the little metal bits it makes life much easier.

... also these are so much better than cheap single straps. I'm sure most on this forum know that but these are the first double straps I've had and they make the world of difference!

Cheers skelator

fanatstic to hear others can make use of my blue peter guide! im still running the original straps i made, at least 10 miles a day and no problems, so if done well, with appropriate materials they can really last!

nice one. double straps are really overpriced!

nice one. double straps are really overpriced!

+1

fanatstic to hear others can make use of my blue peter guide! im still running the original straps i made, at least 10 miles a day and no problems, so if done well, with appropriate materials they can really last!

I'm a bit worried about mine bc I think my rivets are a bit short... although now they're all done any mends should be easy.

Thanks again.

oh i just remebered use the widest belts you can.

If anyone has any old straps they dont want that i could have for free or for a beer or biscuits or summin, then please PM me!
I'd love to make a pair of these.