This Instructable will show you how to fix a belt in about ten minutes using basic tools. Due to the terrible economy, low quality of most belts made these days, expanding average waistline, and lack of leather tools in the standard household, this is a good skill to have.

Background: A friend of mine has this belt that she really likes, but is actually rather badly made. It broke the other day, and I saw a perfect opportunity to make an Instructable to show how I fix belts.

Here we go.

Step 1: Tools

This step can be loosely interpreted.

Basically all you need are two things:

Something to cut and bend wire with: Depending on the type of wire you use, you may also need something to strip the wire with. I used a pair of wire strippers and some needle nosed pliers.

Something to poke holes: I used a drill because it was fast and sitting on my work table already. You could use a knife, nails, an ice pick, a small screwdriver, pretty much anything small and relatively pointy that can be forced through the material.

Most multi-tools will probably have all the bits required for this fix.

Step 2: Materials

What you need:

Broken belt: this one was pretty cheap, made of something that seemed to be halfway between cardboard and leather. It had broken straight across, so fitting the pieces together was simple.

Wire: I used some tough copper wire from a reel I found on the side of the road a while ago. Depending on your wire, you might have to strip off insulation. Any kind of tough solid-core wire will work.

Super Glue: I used Krazy Glue. Any kind of fast-drying super glue should work. In a pinch, you don't even need super glue, but it dramatically increases the life span of the repair.

Step 3: Poke Holes

Use your poking device to poke holes as shown in the photograph. make sure the wire will fit through the holes, but don't make the holes really big, since that might damage the belt more.

Step 4: Cut Wires

Cut wires as shown in picture, two short and two long. Make sure the wires are at least an inch longer than the distance between the holes they are meant to go in.

Step 5: Stick in Wires

Push the bits of wire into the holes as shown in the pictures. Bend the wires flat.

Step 6: Glue

Put super glue in the holes, around the wires, and anywhere else you think might need it. Let it air dry for a few minutes and your belt is fixed.

Step 7: Bonus Step- Reinforcing a Lengthwise Tear

The owner of this belt poked an extra hole in it for the buckle tooth to go in. This hole had started to tear lengthwise, so i added a few more bits of wire to reinforce it. You should be able to understand this step from the pictures.

Step 8: Done!

This repair is pretty strong, and I have yet to have it fail on me from normal use and abuse. Don't try to flex the repair that much, as that will surely make it begin to degrade. This repair is designed more to be functional rather than look very good, as you will still have bits of wire visible on the belt, as you can see in the pictures.

This repair could probably be used for other kinds of straps too, like backpack straps, or rifle slings, but I have so far only used it on belts. Use your imagination, and remember that this repair won't hold an elephant.

Have a nice day.