Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Wolftrail on April 22, 2016, 09:36:00 AM

Title: Leather handle
Post by: Wolftrail on April 22, 2016, 09:36:00 AM
What is the best way to hem a leather handle wrap. Rather than having the rough unfinished edge showing. I was thinking double sided tape.    :confused:
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 22, 2016, 09:42:00 AM
Glue it and fold it over, then clamp it down with a thin piece of wood. But the tape should work also.
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: fujimo on April 22, 2016, 10:48:00 AM
go to tandy, and buy a skiving tool( they call it the safety beveler)- borrow the wifes granite cutting board- or get a chunk of heavy glass to use it on- or go to  the undertakers and scrounge a piece of broken headstone!
 https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/safety-beveler  
skive the edge right down to a feather-
so when it is folded over- as the old fella say- then the line underneath is almost invisible
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: fujimo on April 22, 2016, 10:50:00 AM
you need a hard polished surface to work on, not wood or plastic- the part of the blade that hangs over the edge will get stuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7XsI-lokGw
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Wolftrail on April 22, 2016, 11:02:00 AM
"Glue it and fold it over"  I was thinking that to.
Thx for the tips guys.
I had the chance last year to buy tons of American made leather working tools for $100, they were in a wooden dovetail box.  I kick myself now for not buying them.  
 :knothead:
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 22, 2016, 11:32:00 AM
I skive the top and bottom of the grip to nothing with a fillet knife. I use deer leather. I don't fold it over though, but by skiving it to nothing, the leather rolls over to nothing and gives the grip a clean finished look and feel.

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Jeff_Durnell/Wild%20Thing/WildThing15.jpg)
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: J.F. Miller on April 22, 2016, 01:09:00 PM
as said, skiving the edge is fantastic way to finish the edges of handle. I use a razor knife with the blades that break off in sections. very sharp is very important to do the job justice. here is a link to a hunting forum that I post on occasionally that has my entire handle wrap process documented with lots of pics.   web page (http://www.theohiooutdoors.com/showthread.php?18688-Been-busy-in-the-shop/page3)
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 22, 2016, 04:47:00 PM
Nice, Jamie..
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: mikkekeswick on April 23, 2016, 03:22:00 AM
The traditional way to finished an edge is to skieve lightly then burnish it. Burnishing your leather work straight away makes it look 'pro'.
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: JEFF B on April 23, 2016, 03:55:00 AM
Bowjunkie that looks awesome
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 23, 2016, 08:16:00 AM
I roll them and use a laminate tile roller to make a tight seam.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/special%20bows/gilsbowhandlebelly.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/special%20bows/gilsbowhandlebelly.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: monterey on April 23, 2016, 10:15:00 AM
Do you guys use glue?
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Bowjunkie on April 23, 2016, 02:26:00 PM
I do. I use 3M spray adhesive. I spray the inside of the leather everywhere except where I'll be stitching.
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Buemaker on April 23, 2016, 03:17:00 PM
Some nice handles alright.
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 23, 2016, 05:21:00 PM
Here is the way I put a handle on;

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000052
Title: Re: Leather handle
Post by: Wolftrail on April 24, 2016, 11:51:00 AM
That nice finish without the stitching Eric looks great. Good Tootorial.