The ends of belts are fastened together by means of lacing, threaded through holes punched near the ends •of the belts. The lacing is usually an oil-tan leather, prepared especially for the purpose, and obtainable in the various widths and lengths most suitable for the sizes of belts in common use. The following table gives the widths of lacing for different sizes of belts:

The size of the holes punched for the lacing should be the smallest that will permit of lacing without great difficulty; holes having the effect of reducing the strength of the belt, and large holes failing to keep the lacing tightly in place. The usual practice is to have have 1/4 inch holes in belts up to 6 inches wide and 5-16 or 3/8 inch for the greater widths,

A

Fig. 1.

B

In cutting the ends of a belt preparatory to lacing, the line for the cut should be marked with a scratch point or pencil along the edge of a square and cut with a sharp knife, as it is absolutely necessary to the even running of the belt that the joint should be square and at right angles with the edges of the belt.

There are several common arrangements for lacing belts, but of the two here given the first is preferred, as in cutting off a piece for the purpose of strengthening the belt, the length cut off is not as long as with the second, the latter being likely to cause too tight a belt if both rows are cut off, and an uneven lacing if only one row is cut off. on only quite long belts can the second style of lacing be used to good advantage.

For even the narrowest widths of belt there should be at least two holes in each end, the illustrations being for a belt three inches wide. For narrow belts omit the centre holes and the lacing for one pair of holes. The holes should centre 1 inch apart and about 3/4 inch from the ends of the belt, and be punched exactly opposite each other. The proper places should be found by measurement until experience has enabled one to do it correctly without. If the holes are not evenly spaced, upon tightening the lace, the edges will be found out of line, and in case it should be running through a shipper, a torn belt is likely to result. Begin to lace at the centre holes, first passing the lace half through the hole a from the under or pulley side of the belt; then pass the other end through the hole 6; A, Fig. 1, showing the back or outside of the belt, and B the face or pulley side. Continuing, pass down through hole d, up through c, down d again and up through c; then across to 6 and up through h, where a notch is cut in the lace about even with the back edge of the belt to prevent the end of the lace from slipping back through the hole. The other end of the lace is then put down through the hole e, then up through f, down e again and up f, across to a and up through g. where the end is notched as described. The holes g and h should be smaller than the other holes, the lace fitting tightly therein. It will be noted that all crossings of the lace are outside.

A

Fig. 2.

B

The method shown in Fig. 2 is somewhat stronger than the other, and is best adapted to long belts which will allow both rows of holes to be cut off when tightening, though the belt can be laced in the same manner if only one row is cut off. The arrangement is carried out much the same as with the first method, and is shown so clearly in the illustration that further description should not be necessary. A similar arrangement, much used, places the four-hole rows nearest the ends, but that shown is to be preferred as giving more strength to the edges and, therefore, less likely to tear out should the belt catch on the shipper. The ends of the lacing are put up through the centre holes and then threaded to the holes nearest the edges, two turns being taken through these holes before starting towards the centre holes. One end is carried to a stay hole, and notched to hold it; the other carried down one centre hole and up through the other, notched and the end drawn under the nearest cross lacing, where it should hold all right.