I'm a Belt Addict! I can't get enough of them. They're jewelry for your waist and there's no end to the styles available. When it comes to hunting for belts -
I have it easy. Living close to Dallas and Fort Worth - The Western Wear Fashion Capitol of The World - belts are abundant in all of my favorite flea market and thrift store hang outs.
The trick is to separate the trash from the treasure. By restoring old belts, you can quickly learn the limits of what can be fixed, and what can't. Some of my favorite belts began as ratty things from the bottoms of rummage sale boxes. Restoring an old belt is simple, and usually takes only a few minutes.
Supplies: rubber gloves, lint free rags (torn up t-shirts are great), cotton swabs, acetone paint remover, non abrasive metal polish, permanent markers, leather restore ointment, masking tape, clear glossy spray enamel.
First, determine if the metal has a clear coat of paint over it. On old belts, it's usually easy to see where this protective layer has begun to peel away. To be sure, test a spot with a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover. If a light rubbing makes it look better, it's probably coated with paint. Remove the old paint with a cloth and nail polish remover.
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| A Vintage Gloria Vanderbilt with Flaking Paint |
Tarnish or Patina? Both are the result of oxidation on metal. Tarnish is something you want to buff away with metal polish. Patina is tarnish that highlights or accents the design of the metal in a desirable manner. I like to leave deeply embossed metal or hammered metals unpolished because the patina enhances the texture and contrast of the piece. But, the decision is really yours. If you like it shiny - polish it. If you want a time worn, seasoned piece, leave it alone.
Once your metal and leather are clean, a coat of spray enamel will seal the metal to prevent future tarnish. Use masking tape to cover the leather, then spray a light coat of enamel onto the metal. One or two coats should be enough. Be sure to keep them light and allow time to dry between coats. Let the paint dry completely before peeling away the tape, or you could leave some unsightly finger prints.
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| Metal cleaned and ready to spray with enamel. |
Leather belts are great survivors. Dried leather is easy to restore with the right materials. Small faded spots or cracks can be disguised with a matching permanent marker. Old, dried leather can be revitalized with lanolin or mink oil based ointment. But be careful - suede is an exception. Oils used to clean smooth leathers will badly discolor suede.
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| The Gloria Vanderbilt restored. |
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| A restored Justin Belt |
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| The belt before |
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