MODERN BLACKSMITHING 65 



bend them too sharp or drive the bends together too 

 hard; in so doing they will cut through the leather 

 and pull out. Lacing is the best for all kinds of belts. 

 In sewing a belt with lacing, first punch with a 

 punch made for this purpose, holes in proportion to 

 the width. Don't punch them too close to the ends. 

 Begin sewing in the center holes and start so that both 

 ends of the lacing will come out on the outside of the 

 belt. Now sew with one end to each side, and be 

 careful not to cross the lacing on the side next to the 

 pulleys. The lacing should be straight on that side. 

 When the belt is sewed punch a small hole a little up 

 in the belt to receive the last end of the lacing; the 

 last end should come out on the outside of the belt. 

 In this end cut a little notch about three-fourths 

 through the lacing close to the belt, and then cut the 

 lacing off a quarter of an inch outside of this notch. 

 This notch will act as a prong and prevent the lacing 

 from pulling out. Tap it lightly with a hammer above 

 the seam to smooth it down. 



POINTS ON BELTS 



In placing shafts to be connected by belts, care 

 should be taken to get the right working distance one 

 from the other. For smaller belts 12 to 15 feet is 

 about the right distance. For large belts, a greater 

 distance is wanted. The reason for this is that when 

 pulleys are too close together there is no sag in the 



