will send your way in an hour or two.
Tooling up to make belt buckles
- Thread starter dave gibson
- Start date
will send your way in an hour or two.
Nostinkingbadges
New Member
I use a leather sandbag and a bowling ball to dome buckles. It works like a charm.
For pressing jewelry it has been said time after time to not try anything less then s 20 Ton. But sounds like you just want to put a slight curve on the buckle. I usually use 18 or 16 GA. Unless you are ew anting to press designs into buckle you could prob get by with less. I don't use a press for buckles, I use doming block and mallet.
dave gibson
Elite Cafe Member
Since I first posted this I've bought some real nice doming plates from Lindsay and a 5 ton press, works great for 16 ga nickel, 16 is as thick as I can find. I'm still needing proper dapping tools to make the backing plates fit the domed front but I'm able to fake it. The project is working slowly but crawling along, I'm now able to make a belt buckle from scratch, and I do mean scratch. I've actually sold some, so now I'm just looking for ways to make them better. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone and if you have anymore suggestions please keep them coming.
tdelewis
Elite Cafe Member
My first buckle was shaped by hollowing out a piece of white oak and using a soft hammer to shape it in the hollow. Worked well. I just made my first ranges set and also made a domed white oak form to shape it over. I did three tries in copper before I was satisfied with it.
Yep, the polishing lathe is the most dangerous machine in the shop. Unless you are spitting parts out of your engine lathe or milling machine vise...
Brian
KAAA-TING! (That ominous sound of buffer wheel grab)
dave gibson
Elite Cafe Member
What kind of doming block do you use? I want one to dome the backing hardware for my buckles, do you have a picture and dimensions? thanks
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