Tug Belt - a Minimalist Belt That Fits in Your Wallet

Forgot your belt?
Have a pair of pants that are slightly too big?

If so, you may be interested in building this Tug Belt.

Here are the highlights:
- It tightens your pants by twisting a belt-loop.
- It fits in your wallet.
- It's easy to make

You can build your own Tug Belt out of an old credit card by following this tutorial.

Thanks, and enjoy!
-Josh!

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Here's what you will need:

An old credit card
- Make sure it does not include any important or private information.
- Make sure it is of a standard credit card size and (Ideally) doesn't have any raised lettering.

Safety Glasses
- If you like your eyeballs.

The Paper Print-Out
- Print the attached PDF
- Ensure your print-settings do not scale or crop it, or it will not be the correct size.

Scissors
- For cutting the paper print-out and credit card.
- Optional: Heavy-Duty Scissors for easier cutting of the credit card.

Double-Sided Tape
- For temporarily attaching the print-out to the credit card

Center-Punch
- For more accurate drilling

Drill / Drill Bits
- For drilling into the credit card.
- 3/16" and 1/8" DIA drill bits.

Random Block of Wood
- To ensure you don't drill into your table or hand.

Sand Paper
- To smooth out your cuts

Step 2: Cut and Mount the Print Out

Cut along the outer, dotted lines of the paper print-out (file is located in the previous step). This should give you a shape that is identical in size to your credit card.

Use double-sided tape to secure the paper to the credit card.

NOTE: Which side of the credit card (and which orientation) you tape to matters.
- If you plan to wear your Tug Belt on your RIGHT-SIDE then tape the paper to the back-side of your credit card if you want the front side visible when worn. (not shown in pics)
- If you want to wear your Tug Belt on the LEFT-SIDE then tape the paper to the front-side of your credit card if you want that side visible when worn. (as shown in the pics)

Step 3: Drill It

Use that random block of wood as a backing-plate to prevent drilling into your table.

Then use the center-punch and drill accordingly with the 1/8" and 3/16" DIA drill bits.

Step 4: Cut It

Use your scissors (or ideally heavy-duty scissors) to cut along the solid black line.

You can optionally use an Xacto-blade to cut the tight spots.

Be sure not to bend the credit card too much. Credit card material (PVCA) isn't particularly strong. When I made them, I used to laser-cut them from a much stronger material (Delrin) and sanded it to get a soft-touch surface.

Step 5: Sand It

Remove the paper and double-sided tape from the credit card.

Sand the edges smooth so that they don't cut your skin or clothing.

Congrats! You just made your own Tug Belt.
(Fancy laser-cut Tug Belt also shown in picture)

Now you just need to learn how to wear it (the next step)...

Step 6: Wear It

Follow the pictured instructions to wear it.

And when you are not wearing it, store it in your wallet.

Thanks.
-Josh!

Comments

[jluetger]

Did not work with my jeans not strong enough to pull and twist loop.

[joshpit2003]

Perhaps I should have mentioned it in the instructions, but you need to lift your pants up, then twist the Tug Belt on.

[Djjazzyjasper]

I made one and it didn't work with my jeans. I followed the instructions cor

[joshpit2003]

Hey Jasper. Thanks for making one dude.

I've tried it on a variety of adult pants and it worked with all of them, so if you can explain why it didn't work with your jeans I might be able to help you.

Also: It's not the most intuitive installation, so be sure to follow the diagram directions to insure you are using it properly.

Thanks, and looking forward to your response.

[Djjazzyjasper]

When I try to put it on, it folds in half. Maybe it's the wrong material?

[joshpit2003]

hum, it's supposed to curve with your waist, but not fold in half.

Credit card material (PVCA) breaks easily if it is bent too-much so I wouldn't expect yours to last very long if it is folding. I'd suggest trying to find a thicker or stiffer credit-card, perhaps glue two together if your credit cards aren't strong enough. Best of luck.

[Djjazzyjasper]

thanks so muck dude!

[ThummarwitshW]

YOU ARE COOL!!

[jobics]

Amazingly ingenious!

[clark5113]

Brilliant. If things keep going the way they are in this country, we are all gonna need one:)

[dewhickey]

Good idea. Or I could tie a piece of cording to two belt loops.

[joshpit2003]

You could also zip-tie two belt loops together.

A one-time use solution with a zip-tie though, but might be faster than tying a knot.

[dewhickey]

Zip ties are fast but pokey. I'l try it and see if I can get it angled comfortably. Zip tie would focus the tension narrowly and could wear down the fabric.

[joshpit2003]

Just hit 100 "Favorites". So awesome.

Thanks guys.

[rch]

Brilliant!!!

[Phoenix830]

great product, and instructable. If I bought one I know I'd forget to put back in my wallet after first use

[joshpit2003]

Thanks.

I'm starting to get better at writing instructions, but they are still taking me more time than I would like (this one was 6 hours to document).

They stay on your pants quite well, even if you take your pants off. That being said, I haven't run a Tug Belt through the wash yet, but I imagine the Delrin would hold up. Not sure about the credit card material, perhaps you could build one and test that for me.

;-)

[Moveforward52]

This is very well written. I appreciate the time you put into word crafting. It shows! It makes a huge difference. Thanks! This is a great idea. I hope you sell a lot.

[Yonatan24]

It takes so many hours to make an Instructable, and then you look back 1 day later and say to yourself "Wow. "I could have done all of this in 15 minutes."

Been there close to 100 times ;)

[nliwilson]

Neat! Such a simple little thing anyone can make, that's excellent. :)