bitsandspurs

Hi Guys, I'm gonna post some tutorials on forming buckles and conchos soon for those who might find them useful or adapt some part of how I make mine to your techniques. But a good way to get a buckle form in metal for now is to form a buckle shape in steel (12 gauge?) however you can to get it right, but don't cut any middle part out of it. I melt lead fishing weights into a coffee can cut down (or tin can depending on size) and then float the buckle shape in that so that it cools into the lead and becomes a solid form to hammer or press your cut blanks into to form them. That's a trick I learned from my instructor Diane Scalese at my GRS engraving course and it's saved my butt more than a few times trust me. I have one for 1-1/2" belt buckles, one for spur strap and headstall buckles and so on. There's alreay one domed concho forming tutorial on my web site if anyones interested.
Paul

http://www.cowboyblacksmith.com/tool.htm