[SEL] Belt dressing

[Rob Skinner]

Last week I was studying the traditional method of lacing belts using a “sewing” technique. Luckily, I’m lazy and the book is still sitting handily beside me on my desk. The book addresses various aspects of leather belting and was written by two MIT professors of mechanical technology. 

They state that rosin based belt dressings are poor substitutes for proper belt care and will greatly decrease the life of the belt. Petroleum based oils will also degrade the leather. They recommend neatsfoot oil, a mixture of cod oil and tallow, or other lubricants used in currying leather. 

Sticky belt dressings are popular in industrial environments where a shutdown would be more expensive than damaging the belt. Even so, at the earliest possible opportunity, the belt should be cleaned and lubricated with a proper dressing.