How to Repair a Leather Belt

Leather belt with eagle on buckle on white background

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Leather repair kits help fix small cuts and rips and even cracked and damaged leather. They work by gluing the material down, and filling in the holes or gaps with a compound that binds into the leather and dries with flexibility and strength. It becomes similar to the texture of leather and a variety of paints and polishes can be applied onto the dried compound to blend in with the rest of the leather belt or any other leather accessory.

Clean the damaged area with a dampened cloth. Use detergent for stubborn grease or stains. Scrubbing with an alcohol pad is also recommended.

Apply the compound onto the surface of the rip or hole. Smooth it out with a putty knife. Wipe over again with a damp cloth to smooth out further. For cracked belts, sand out the surface with light sanding to even out the cracks and creases. For smaller scratches or rips, use glue to fill in the gap. If the flap is still intact but coming off, apply glue on the underside of the flap and press down. Let it dry and fill in the gap with compound or glue, depending on the size of the gaps.

Apply polish. Polish over the damaged area using the same color as the belt. You can also color with fine mist sprayers.