shadow2

Thanks--your tools look great... Just like what I have in mind. A few questions about your method: Not familiar with contact cement--is it ok to soak the leather after the cement has been applied? Will it still adhere to the handle? Do you use a lock stitch with awe. That is, two pieces of thread locked at each hole like a sewing machine? For wrapping the jaws of the pliers, do you suggest wet forming the leather to fit them or something less? Was just doing some research on the overstitch wheel but wanted to clarify. Does #6 refer to the holes/inch? Does this tool actually punch holes or just mark where they will be? Again, thank you.

Thanks for your ideas North. By force drying do you mean with something like a heat-gun or hair-dryer or low temp in an oven? I had thought about the glue as well, and I can also "knurl" the handle before I put the leather on. The handle is actually aluminum, not steel, so it won't be difficult to rough it up with a hacksaw blade.

Thanks for the reply, Ramrod. Regarding the stitching, this tool in particular can be disassembled so I can work with each handle separately. I was just reading some posts on wet forming and am now wondering about the approach of wet forming the leather on the handles, using small clamps down the seam and then sewing it up by hand after it has formed and dried. Originally, I was thinking about sewing, either by hand or with a machine, the covers off of the tool and then trying to slide them on, but I feel like it may be tougher to get a contoured fit that way.

I'd like to make some leather handle covers for hand tools, specifically a pair of pruning shears, to give as a gift. The image is from a collector's edition, which is where I got the idea. This edition costs around $300, and the regular edition, which is the same except for the leather and gold anodization is $45. The regular grips are a dipped plastic which I was thinking I could cut off at the imaginary inseam, and have a template to begin working with the leather. My concern is getting a tight fit, that stays tight as it wears with use, but not so tight that the seam is excessively stressed when sliding the covers on. Is it possible to sew the covers to be too small to install, but them wet them, or heat them in order to get them on. Are there methods for causing leather to shrink and conform to the contours of the handle once they are on. Baking? What types of leather are more suitable for this kind of work? I've done some basic leather-working before--wallet, belt, banjo strap--but never anything in this realm. Any thoughts on this process would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Shadow