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Post by Jaren Valnor on Mar 1, 2005 18:09:30 GMT -5
I've come into quite a bit of sheet vinyl, and I think it is enough to make a belt. However, I do not know where to begin, and my only reference material is a belt that came with the Hasbro Jedi Gear from Episode 2, and I have found sites saying that is inaccurate. I don't know much about belt-building. HELP!  |
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Mar 1, 2005 19:54:01 GMT -5
I liked the belt discussion on Amber's Meditaton Chanber: www.rebellegion.com/jedigarb/This pics are not that great but it has some good discussion on what goes on the belt. The Padawan's Guide is good, too; just insert your vinyl where they use leather. www.padawansguide.com/belt.shtmlDepending on how thick your vinyl is, you may need to 2 or 3 layers for the wide belt, if you're going for the typical movie-style Jedi. One layer will likely be fine for the narrower one. For the multiple layers you can either sew them together with a good sewing machine, or use glue. You want a glue that will flex with the vinyl! Otherwise it will fall apart. JediKai has glue, pictures and everything on her belt tutorial at: public.fotki.com/Kait/star_wars/jedi_belt_tutorial/If you have lots and lots of extra vinyl and can experiment with it. consider doing a single layer mock-up of the belt and see how it works out. Start with a belt you already have to figure out the length and use the pictures on the tutorials online for your guide. And for the cut edges of the vinyl, which will likely be white and stand out, just use a Sharpie to darken them. They make Sharpies in every color now, it's permanent and I've never had a problem with Sharpie marks rubbing or running. |
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Post by Nova Darklighter on Mar 20, 2005 23:19:09 GMT -5
Hey Jaren, have you tried anything with the vinyl? Just a note, if you plan to put your pouches on the narrow belt, you will need to use a fabric lining or do it double or it will curl or droop with to much weight.
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JediKai
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Post by JediKai on Mar 21, 2005 10:56:04 GMT -5
To add the necessary stiffness and strength to the vinyl so it can hold the pouches and lightsaber you could use the vinyl over belting material. This is sold on rolls, by the yard, in notions section of a fabric store. It is meant to be covered by fabric and is fairing stiff. You might still need 2 or 3 layers of it, though, for the right thickness and strength.
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Post by ayanabashu on Jul 1, 2005 23:02:45 GMT -5
To add the necessary stiffness and strength to the vinyl so it can hold the pouches and lightsaber you could use the vinyl over belting material. This is sold on rolls, by the yard, in notions section of a fabric store. It is meant to be covered by fabric and is fairing stiff. You might still need 2 or 3 layers of it, though, for the right thickness and strength. I noticed on your tutorial site that you used Fibings cement. Does this work as well on vinyl? |
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Post by LoreenShadowchaser on Jul 2, 2005 3:40:27 GMT -5
I believe that that leather glue is water based, so it wouldn't work on vinyl.
I once made a belt out of vinyl and used contact cement to put two layers together. You have to make sure the belt is in a circle when you do that as the glue is drying, not laid out flat, or the inner layer won't lay right when you put it on since it would be too long, then.
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Post by jacelarsen on Jul 6, 2007 16:44:05 GMT -5
When I made my vinyl belt, what I did was I used 4 layers to give it more strength. My last layer, I wrapped that over, to cover the white edges that were showing. This really helped with maitaining the leather belt look.
I would recommend the idea Loreenshadowchaser had about glueing it when it is in a circle. I didnt' do this, and had some hangover.
I used Tacky glue to hold it together. It's a bit more flexible than most other glues.
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JediKai
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Post by JediKai on Jul 7, 2007 0:51:34 GMT -5
Unless you have an ethical objection to the use of leather, there really is no substitute for leather belt and pouches. IMHO, vinyl just doesn't look as good nor does it look movie-accurate (if that is for what you're striving). It's also very durable and will last for years.
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Post by Magenta Moonshadow on Aug 5, 2007 0:06:53 GMT -5
I won't wear leather for ethical reasons... I made my belt out of vinyl backed with thin cardboard, with velcro at the back. I also used metal 'button fronts' for the thinner belt 'guide' studs... And a couple of cola ring-pulls for the centre 'buckle' detail:    |
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Post by jacelarsen on Aug 5, 2007 21:38:27 GMT -5
Nice belt, Magenta! I never thought to use carboard for stiffness. That's really inventive.  I just had to post a link to show my belt as well. Here it is. s179.photobucket.com/albums/w293/JaceLarsen/The pouches are stitched vinyl as well. Let me know what you think. |
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Post by Magenta Moonshadow on Aug 5, 2007 22:36:23 GMT -5
Nice pic! ;D Vinyl is available in various thicknesses - was yours very thick? If anyone is keen to have a go using vinyl, here's a few tips... I preferred to use a thinner one backed with cardboard for extra strength, than to use very thick vinyl with no backing, or several layers of thin vinyl, which is just wasting it! LOL!!. It needs the stiffness of the cardboard that vinyl on its own won't do!  The type of cardboard is important, too...you don't need corrugated board or anything with folds in it... I was working in a large department store when I was making my belt, so I used one of the very large flat pieces of cardboard which are used as advertising banners. If they've been used for a 'hanging display' they'll be printed on both sides... just peel off the printed paper from front and back (you might need a craft knife to help you along here and there) and you'll be left with a very sturdy yet flexible white piece of card which you can cut down into belt-shaped strips! As has already been mentioned, you'll need to put the cardboard into a circle shape so it'll lay properly when you wear it. I held the shape with 'bulldog clips' (that's what they're called in the UK, don't know if they're the same name in the US! Spring-loaded clothes-pegs would probably do just as well!) The clips were also very important to hold it all together once the vinyl was fixed to the card and the glue was setting! ;D Experiment with offcuts of cardboard and vinyl to find out the best sort of glue to attach one to the other... I used both 'Copydex' (a latex-style glue) and also superglue. With the superglue I could feel warmth coming through the vinyl as I pressed down on it to bond it together, but the bond was very strong. The heat meant that it was bonding very well! The cardboard is only used for backing the main belt - the thin middle strap is just glued in place, each end bending back on itself under the 'buckle', and the other ends continuing around the belt and between the strap guide studs, and then glue the ends as far towards the back of the belt as you need...again, this must be done whilst keeping the belt in a circle, or the middle strap won't fit properly... Well, I hope that this is clear enough and might be of some help to someone? ;D |
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Post by jacelarsen on Aug 6, 2007 17:30:31 GMT -5
I don't know what the exact thickness was, but it was pretty thin. That's main reason I used layers, to stiffen it up (i'll have to remember the carboard next time, what a great idea!).
It wasn't hard to do the pouches either. There are a few tutorials out there that will show you how to do it. Sewing them together was a pain though.
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Post by Magenta Moonshadow on Aug 6, 2007 19:02:13 GMT -5
Yep, Vinyl can be a pain to sew, depending on the thickness, because it tears and stretches easily... ** wonders if it's possible to glue pouches together... ;D ** The white edges of the backing card on the belt can easily be covered using waterproof marker pens which match the vinyl, by the way...  |
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Post by Hendel D'bu on Aug 6, 2007 19:13:26 GMT -5
Gosh, it sounds like using leather and stitching your pouches would be soooo much easier than working with vinyl - and, it would look better (but, that's just my opinion).
I used the tutorial to make some really kick-butt pouches for my belt - I just love them! Totally custom and functional. And, it really wasn't any more expensive than buying the vinyl - the vinyl I priced cost the same as the leather I found at the leather shop.
h-d
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Post by Magenta Moonshadow on Aug 6, 2007 20:09:14 GMT -5
My Jedi belt (see pics posted earlier) was quite easy to make out of vinyl and cardboard, and considering it was the first one I'd ever made, and it was really trial and error, I don't think it turned out too bad! LOL!!
(I refuse to wear leather for ethical reasons. I've been vegetarian for 18 years, too... ;D )
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