Leather grips

[Pat B.]

Any of you fellas install your own leather grips on your bow handles.. Particularly interested in doing a riser with a medium - medium/low grip.. I'm guessing that the grip angle and the fact that the grip is bigger at both top and bottom than in the middle is going to make cutting the pattern a bit tricky. Do you glue and lace after the leather is fitted ??  Any info would sure be appreciated, including sources for some thin leather..
                        Thanks

[Bjorn]

I buy leather scraps on that unmentionable auction site. If the grip is laced you don't need glue at all. You can overlap and glue with no lacing. There is a 'how to' section on this site that will outline a couple of options. There are a few tricks to this; but mostly it is practice.
Here's Adam lacing one up.
 

[straitera]

You'll appreciate the confidence factor when you can do for yourself. Just as Bjorn said, there are how to's in the archives. IMO, Apex Predator shows an explicit method for sewing a perfect grip. Real nice grip above! I never use glue on anything other than rests.

[BowHuntingFool]

I did my own on my Montana. Mikes Archery Leather sells a grip kit for around $15 which includes 3 pieces of leather, 2 neddles and lacing thread. He is a sponsor here which is even better for us!

[Zmonster]

Im glad this was brought up. I did some searching on the "how too" forum, but I didnt find anything on the lace up grips. I find the one on the fold over type with glue. Maybe I should check again.

[Pat B.]

Me too, Zmonster.. I've looked twice, probably overlooked others but all I found was Eric's piece where he glued to a selfbow.. I'll go back and look for Apex's tutorial.

[BowHuntingFool]

Here is a link to MAL grip kit!

 http://www.mikesarcheryleather.com/accessories.htm

[Bjorn]

http://www.angelfire.com/sk/myplace/sparky3.html
Do some searches on TG there is no end of stuff here; this is one example I found tons more.

[straitera]

Marty's (Apex Predator) how to is dated June 14, 2008 & titled "leather laced grip build along". You'll likely find it in the build along section. I prefer much heavier leather on my grip which just builds up the handle portion a bit. Same install however.