Leather Covered Hand Rails

[MihaG]

Hello, I am looking to start a new project, to cover the stairs hand rails with leather. I can use any advice on how to cut it, sew it, glue it, anything. Thank you so much,

Mihaela

[Ferg]

I answered this once but it didn't stay.

I believe your best method would be to make a tube of your leather, stitching lengthwise as well as the end/butt joints you may have.

The tube will need to be as snug as you can make it and still pull it onto the rail. If the rail is semi-round this should be no problem, fancy rails would be a bigger problem.

Finish with Olive Oil. Apply semi dry applications until you get the look you wish. Use an old T-shirt to buff and wipe excess oil from the leather.

I would apply the oil after you attach to the rail. You will need to clean the leather before applying the oil. Use some brass tacks to secure the leather to the rail.
Recess the tacks slightly below leather surface so you don't catch your hands on them.

If you do not wish to stitch the leather you can simply wrap the rail and attach to the bottom with tacks. You may want to glue the joint with this method but don't glue the leather to the rail other than a slight bit on the wood at the joint. The leather and the wood rail are two very different materials and will react to temperature and humidity differently.

ferg

[MihaG]

Thank you very much Ferg.