How to install leather grip on highly cotoured handle?

[NYRON]

Over the years I’ve probably installed 20-30 leather grips on bows. These were all longbows with straight handles or grips that were only slightly contoured or indexed. I’ve never had any trouble getting the leather to smooth out with no wrinkles or rolls.

Recently, however, I attempted to install a leather grip on a bow with a more contoured handle—you might define it as a shallow pistol grip. For the life of me, I just couldn’t get the wrinkles out of the leather in the deepest part of the grip.

Does anyone have any tips or tutorials for installing a leather grip on a bow with a pistol type grip?

Thanks for your help!

Just for background…below is the procedure that I’ve always used.

•   Cut leather to approximate size.
•   Soak leather in water to soften.
•   Stretch wet leather around grip, smoothing as you go.
•   Fasten along back seam with spring clamps.
•   Allow to dry.
•   Remove clamps and trim leather along lines made by clamps.
•   Punch holes for stitching.
•   Apply rubber cement and fasten with baseball stitch.

[Caughtandhobble]

I have felt your pain... I ended up using a thinner piece of leather. I basically use the same method as you have described. Good Luck!!!


   

[DanielB89]

the easiest way I have found to do it is walk up to Big Jims tent, hand it to him and a couple 20's and it comes out perfect everytime.. pretty amazing!

[Rustic]

Soak the leather in water.
Wrap the bow handle in plastic wrap.
Then wrap the bow handle with the wet leather.
Let it dry for a day or two. Pretty much the same
as you. It was still a pain but I did this with my Bear Grizzly last year and its
still holding up.

[M60gunner]

I did my Hoyt Excel recurve grip much as Rustic described. I used 4-6 oz leather left over from a pouch project. I soaked the leather for 10 minutes or more working in the water with my hands. I was able to stretch it around the grip and smooth it. I stretched it as I went. I used spring clamps to hold it together until it dried. I then trimmed and sewed it.

[mahantango]

Cut your leather a little oversize at first,allowing for an overlap at the back. Wrap the bow grip in plastic wrap, soak the leather in water and start working it around the grip stretching it into the contours. Get it as tight as you can, overlap at the back where the stitching will be. Now, tightly wrap the whole thing with an Ace bandage, secure and let it sit over night to dry. Remove the Ace and trim to final size, still leaving the overlap. Apply Barge or contact cement to all but the area where the stitching will be and put the grip on while still wet so you can slide it around for a perfect fit. Hold in place like you were gripping the bow for a few minutes till the blue sets up. Now overlap the two layers on the back and carefully, using a straightedge, cut through both layers with a sharp razor knife giving you a perfect seam. Punch holes, apply a light coat of Barge, and stitch.

[mahantango]

Glue, not blue. Damn fingers.

[Pine]

I have done a spiral wrap and I really like it .
Cut some sueade leather about 1" wide and long enough that you are sure it will make it as far as you want .
Put a little Barge Cement at the start and your first wrap will hold that in place .
Continue wrapping with about s 1/4" overlap , and go slow and be careful to keep the overlap equal .
Take it to where you want to stop , and rubber band it down with Barge Cement at the end .
Give it a few hours or next day , and trim the leather how It looks good .
It's not hard at all , I'm sure you can do It .

[jabodnar]

I was able to wrap beaver tail on my bow with a pretty heavy contour to it.  Beaver tail has very little stretch.  It took several soaking/dryings to get it fully formed.  Here's the process I followed.

-cover handle with plastic wrap.

-soak leather

-wrap around handle.  Starting with 1 end, wrap very tightly with electrical tape.  Overlapping only about 1/8" at a time.  Let sit for several hours.  The leather will not fully dry, but it will take a pretty good set.

-lightly soak leather.  Place on bow, wrap with ace bandage. I then wrapped over the ace bandage with more electrical tape where needed to apply pressure into any recesses. let dry

-after that, apply barge cement, trim, and lace as usual.

It turned out great, unfortunately I just didn't like how beefy it made the grip feel and ended up removing it.

   

[NYRON]

This is great. Thank you for all of the input!

Jon, that beaver tail looks great! Too bad you didn't like the feel. I've had that happen, as well.