Covering Swell Problem! Need An Answer Fast!

[pete]

thanks everyone- I will get it done and hopefully post a few pictures wether I get it right the first time or not. I always learn the best from the boo-boos.

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Hey Pete,

one other trick worth mentioning... You've probably experienced when you are trying to smooth bubbles out of a fork cover and you press one bubble down and it pops up in a different spot. If you still have a few small bubbles don't worry too much about them because when you go to glue that cover down the bubbles will be easier to get rid of. Like Keith mentioned, thick leather will compress and absorb alot, especially when wet. When I glue a swell cover down it is slightly wetter than cased leather. I start by centering the cover over the horn and then pulling the front of the cover down on both sides so that I have an even lip across the front. Next, I pull down the centers of both sides so that the cover is square to the tree... don't worry about tacking down the material in between the lower edges of the front lip and the lower sides of the fork. Next I position the tab that will go through the handhole. At this point the fork is glued down in four points on each side of the tree: the lower front lip, the lower side/center of the fork, the corner of the handhole, and around the horn. Because these points are holding the leather fast it will now be easier to push the bubbles down between the points and not have them pop up elsewhere. Work slowly between the points and work the bubbles downward to the edges of the fork cover.

hope that helps a bit.

Darcy

[pete]

Hey Pete,

one other trick worth mentioning... You've probably experienced when you are trying to smooth bubbles out of a fork cover and you press one bubble down and it pops up in a different spot. If you still have a few small bubbles don't worry too much about them because when you go to glue that cover down the bubbles will be easier to get rid of. Like Keith mentioned, thick leather will compress and absorb alot, especially when wet. When I glue a swell cover down it is slightly wetter than cased leather. I start by centering the cover over the horn and then pulling the front of the cover down on both sides so that I have an even lip across the front. Next, I pull down the centers of both sides so that the cover is square to the tree... don't worry about tacking down the material in between the lower edges of the front lip and the lower sides of the fork. Next I position the tab that will go through the handhole. At this point the fork is glued down in four points on each side of the tree: the lower front lip, the lower side/center of the fork, the corner of the handhole, and around the horn. Because these points are holding the leather fast it will now be easier to push the bubbles down between the points and not have them pop up elsewhere. Work slowly between the points and work the bubbles downward to the edges of the fork cover.

hope that helps a bit.

Darcy

thanks Darcy! That helped too!

pete