What material to use for conveyor belts?

[nekom]

I want to add a conveyor system to my HO scale layout. I'm hoping to get a belt bewteen 7/8" and 1" wide to model Consol energy's 72" and 84" belt systems that they run in the mines around here. I actually have detailed prints on the transfers, drives and other equipment they use, but I doubt any of it will work in scale, since their belts run through troughs and rely on the belt being heavy to form the U shape.

Anyway I have a wide range of electric motors and gears, so getting the speed right won't be terribly difficult, but I have no clue what material would make a good scale conveyor. Would sewing a strip of fabric together work? Or would that not get tight enough, even with a tensioner? Has anybody here made a conveyor belt before, and if so what material did you use for the belt? And advice or thoughts are appreciated.

 

[UP2CSX]

I've made conveyor belts with two different materials. One was a rubber band, wide enough, just slightly tight. It worked OK but wore out way too fast. I was in a shoestore one day and saw leather shoe laces that were just the right width and color. I measured the length I needed and had my wife stitch it together on a sewing machine. I used a good tensioner on mine ad it kept the leather tight but flexible. Our club ran it for about two years on a weekly basis before it needed replacement. It was cool in its own way since most of the original conveyor belts were made of leather.