Building up a handle??

[ZSL]

So I'm pretty new to building bows. I'm pretty happy with this bow so far. It's unbacked osage 61" long, #47 at 28". I'd like to build up a leather handle on it. I was just going to super glue on a couple layers of leather and then wrap it in thin leather or beaver tail. Is that the right route to take? Or what about molding some clay for the handle and then wrapping that?

 

 

 

 

[elkors]

You can also build up the handle with cork.

[Pat B]

I use thick shoe leather a lot for bow handles. I wet the leather until flexible, remove excess water and glue it down with TBIII. Once dry(at least over night) you can trim the excess with a sharp knife or razor.
 Once you are sure it is completely dry, saturate with super glue and let that dry. You can now sand it smooth. You may want to do this last step a few times to get a smooth surface. I also make tip overlays the same way.
here are a few pics of the process. Soak the leather until soft in warm water...
 

...size both the leather and handle area of the bow with TBIII...
 

I then wrap with strips of old be sheet. Big rubber bands also work well...
 

...once dry you can shape with sharp blade and in this pic a wood rasp. I usually add two layers to the handle to fill it out...
 

You can see the two layers of leather and the beginning of the super glue...
 

here is the finished laminated leather handle riser...
 

[Pat B]

...and tip overlays...
 

 

 

[Pat B]

I use pre cut shoe sole leather. If there are any shoe repair shops, they should have them. Another option is harness/skirt leather from a saddle shop.
 

[ZSL]

Dang, that looks great! I"m going to try this. Thanks Pat B.

[Pat B]

I've used it many times and it works great.

[Green]

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[Green]

Thanks Pat.  I used leather to build up a handle over the weekend.  Rasped/sanded and now it's ready for super gluing.  Only thing I did different is having used contact cement.  Never considered leather for tip overlays, but can see how it would save time with fitting.....will give that a try on the next one.  I'm assuming it's pretty durable?

[Pat B]

I've never had one come apart.