Buying a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) company belt can be expensive. Homemade replicas of these belts are great for use in fancy dress or amateur wrestling competitions. Make your own wrestling belt using leather and materials that you can buy at craft and hardware stores. You'll need to measure the leather, make the faceplate, and then assemble the belt.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Take Belt Measurements
Step 1. Gather all your supplies
For this part of the belt, you will need to get leather, measuring tools, and leather cutting tools.
- Get a piece of leather. You can buy it at craft stores, farm supply stores, or motorcycle supply stores.
- You will need a tape measure to measure the belt.
- You will need to get a large piece of cardboard to draw a replica of a wrestling belt.
- You will also need a utility knife to cut the cardboard and a leather cutter for the leather.
Step 2. Measure the waist and hips
For this purpose, use a fabric tape measure.
- Write down the measurements before buying the leather.
- Add about 6 inches (15 cm) to the measurement. Since you will have to attach Velcro to the belt later to secure it, the length of the piece of leather will have to be a little longer.
- When buying leather, make sure the piece of leather is at least as long as your waist measurement with the Velcro adjustment. It should be large enough so that the belt measures at least 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) wide from top to bottom.
Step 3. Use cardboard to draw a replica of the belt shape
You will use it to draw the shape of the belt on the leather.
- Use your waist measurements plus 6 inches (15 cm) to mark the length.
- Make the mark using a tape measure, ruler, or measuring stick.
- Make sure the belt is at least 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) wide in the center.
Step 4. Get the metal plate that you will use as the faceplate (see part 2)
Center it on the cardboard belt.
- Instead of making a regular rectangular belt, you can make a belt that looks more like the one used by professional wrestlers.
- If you choose this type of belt, it should have a conical shape.
- Outline the shape of the faceplate with a pencil. This will make the center part of the belt have a rounded shape.
- Use a ruler or measuring stick to draw straight lines that will be the sides of the belt. These lines should be a few inches thinner than the thickest part of the belt's faceplate.
- At that time, the belt will be outlined on the cardboard. Then, cut out the shape with a utility knife, being careful not to cut yourself, as it is a sharp object. That will be the template for cutting the leather.
Step 5. Outline the shape of the belt replica on the leather
That way, you will get the belt shape to trim.
- You can outline the shape of the cardboard template with a white marker pen (available at most craft stores) or a ballpoint pen. Do it on the back of the leather.
- Make sure the lines you draw are uniform and dark enough to see.
- Once you've traced the shape, go over it to make sure there aren't any areas where you've made too light marks or where the lines appear shaky.
- Remove the cardboard template and use the markings to trim the belt from the leather using the leather cutting tool.
Part 2 of 3: Making the faceplate
Step 1. Gather your supplies
To make the faceplate you will need a few items.
- The faceplate is the shiny metal part on the front of the wrestling belt and is decorated according to the wrestling federation and championship.
- You will need to purchase a round or oval brass plate from a hardware store. These plates are relatively inexpensive.
- You will need cardboard to make the decoration template. You will also need to get a cutter or precision knife to cut out the shapes or letters on the template.
- Get spray paint in the colors you want the faceplate to have.
Step 2. Spray paint in the metallic color of your choice on the brass plate
The faceplate is generally gold in color, although you can use another color depending on your preference.
- Make sure to apply paint to a well-ventilated area.
- Apply a generous first coat of paint to the faceplate and allow it to dry.
- After the first coat of spray paint dries, apply a second coat. Then let the plate dry completely.
Step 3. Make the cardboard decoration template
You will use this template to apply the letters and symbols you want for the faceplate.
- Cut out the faceplate shape from the cardboard. You can use the plate to trace this shape if you wish.
- Use a box cutter or precision knife to cut out the letters or symbols from the template.
- Once you've finished cutting out the shapes or letters, make sure the cut lines are even and don't have small, uneven pieces of cardboard along the edges. This will ensure that your design has smooth edges when you use the template.
Step 4. Place the template on the faceplate
Make sure the designs are lined up where you want them to be.
- Spray a large amount of black or dark colored spray paint on the stencil.
- Make sure to do it in a well-ventilated area, as spray paint has strong fumes.
- Pick up the template. The design should stay on the faceplate.
- Let the faceplate dry in an area where no one can touch it.
Part 3 of 3: Assembling the Fighting Belt
Step 1. Place all the supplies on the work area
You will need the following materials:
- trimmed belt
- front plate
- small, short screws with screw caps
- a drill
- industrial velcro
Step 2. Extend the leather belt face up
You will attach the faceplate to the leather.
- Place the faceplate face up, in the desired area of the leather belt, making sure it is centered and in the desired position.
- Attach the faceplate to the leather using a drill and small screws all the way around the edges of the faceplate.
- The harvester will insert the screws directly through the leather.
- Make sure to hold the faceplate down with one hand as you screw it into the leather to hold it in place.
- When the screws are in place, put caps on the back. That will be the area that will be in contact with your skin. If you don't do this, the screws will scratch your skin!
Step 3. Attach the velcro to the belt straps
You will use this material to hold the belt when you wear it.
- You can use industrial velcro that you can get at a hardware store. This type of Velcro has a stronger hold than the type of Velcro you can buy at a craft supply store.
- Attach a 5 to 6 inch (12 to 15 cm) piece of velcro to each of the belt straps.
- Most velcro has an adhesive side that you can use to attach it to the belt. Otherwise, you can either hot glue the velcro or sew it on.
- At this point, the belt will be armed and ready to use!
Advice
- Work slowly and carefully making sure to take exact measurements of your waist to make the belt.
- Be patient when working with leather. It is difficult to cut and requires a bit of force.
- Make sure you are working in a well-lit and ventilated area.
- Do not attach the faceplate to the belt until it is completely dry.
- Make sure to put caps on the faceplate screws to avoid scratching yourself on them when wearing the wrestling belt.