Installing Leather Treadle Belt
 

Hello All! I swear I remember reading somewhere on this board about a different/better way to install a leather treadle belt. Different than just using the staple.

I've searched and I cannot for the life of me find the info again. Could anyone head me in the correct direction?

I am also wondering if any of the treadle machine purists have ever tried the rubber type of band with the little metal connector? I'm thinking that would take away from the "genuine experience". Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I have use silicone tubing and just stitched the ends together.

Stitching works well for leather belts as well. Strongest thread you can find)

Heat shrink tubing is ok, but works loose (in my experience) but it is good OVER a stitched connection.

Thanks Steve. I can't imagine how to stitch through that tough leather belt though ... And would have to do it awkwardly while its in-place and cut to length.

Any tips?

Sew-Classic.com has a tutorial you can download or just watch.

Here is what I do.

Using a tiny drill bit, or ice pick, or awl, or Treadle belt pliers make a hole a little over 1/8" from the end of a belt.
Feed the belt through the machine and table as if you were going to use it.
Overlap the ends and pull snug (NOT super tight, just remove all the slack)
mark exactly where the cut end meets.
Now remove the belt
cut where marked and use the above to make the hole the same as the other end.
Re-feed it through the machine and table, but leave it off the bottom wheel.
IF USING SHRINK TUBE- slip shrink tubing over one end far enough to expose the stitch/staple hole
stitch the two ends together (or install staple)
IF USING SHRINK TUBE- slide tubing over joint
IF USING SHRINK TUBE-heat gently until it is "shrunk"
IF USING SHRINK TUBE-allow to cool
place over wheels as normal and treadle away.

Thank you Steve!

I think the post was about how Steve has done it, but the poster didn't like the click the staple was making so she still used the staple but then used the heat shrink tube over it to quiet down that clicking noise. On my White treadle it makes a lot of noise so I was happy to hear about the shrink tubing.

Put a belt on a treaddle last week. The owner put the hole in the belt end, that was 1/8" away from the end, and it tore through the leather. So put that hole as far away from the end as you can, and still get the staple in. If you clamp the belt end into a vise, you can use a small drill bit to make the hole. Never seen the shrink tubing -- that's pretty great!

Or make a smaller hole......