Hi guys
New to this forum. I want to say off the bat, I haven't got a clue about anything welding or metal related (I work in IT), but I've got such an obscure problem that I didn't know where to turn. The upshot is, I'm hoping someone can offer help and I can send them the materials and some cash to finally sort this once and for all.
I have a replica championship belt. It looks lovely. I got the leather done in the US. I used cold weld (epoxy) to attach the plates to the leather, with the help of some very small brass(?) studs.
Handling the belt though, becomes very delecate. No matter how careful I am, the studs often pop off. The epoxy simply isn't strong enough and I think the studs the leather guy provided me are too small and weak.
Add to that, when I reattach the studs, it's trial and error to see if they will line up to where the holes are in the leather.
I need a more permanent solution. As it happens, the plates are gold plated but made of zinc, and I could be wrong, but welding the studs would potentially melt the zinc. I don't want this... but what are my options? I'm sick of death of having this lovely piece that is so flimsy.
Also, I used a leather punch to punch the holes in where they should go (to match the belt used on television in the 80's and 90's) - so the holes are there. Ideally I'd want whatever new solution someone can help me with to have the new fastening posts/whatever in the same place as the current holes (though happy for the wholes to be made bigger).
Can someone please help?
New to this forum. I want to say off the bat, I haven't got a clue about anything welding or metal related (I work in IT), but I've got such an obscure problem that I didn't know where to turn. The upshot is, I'm hoping someone can offer help and I can send them the materials and some cash to finally sort this once and for all.
I have a replica championship belt. It looks lovely. I got the leather done in the US. I used cold weld (epoxy) to attach the plates to the leather, with the help of some very small brass(?) studs.
Handling the belt though, becomes very delecate. No matter how careful I am, the studs often pop off. The epoxy simply isn't strong enough and I think the studs the leather guy provided me are too small and weak.
Add to that, when I reattach the studs, it's trial and error to see if they will line up to where the holes are in the leather.
I need a more permanent solution. As it happens, the plates are gold plated but made of zinc, and I could be wrong, but welding the studs would potentially melt the zinc. I don't want this... but what are my options? I'm sick of death of having this lovely piece that is so flimsy.
Also, I used a leather punch to punch the holes in where they should go (to match the belt used on television in the 80's and 90's) - so the holes are there. Ideally I'd want whatever new solution someone can help me with to have the new fastening posts/whatever in the same place as the current holes (though happy for the wholes to be made bigger).
Can someone please help?