leather grips

[Shockman54]

just curious if anyone has ever made their handlebar grips out of leather? i was planning on cutting strips out of some leather i had around, and simply wrapping around the handlebars. underneath the leather i was going to have some cloth tape spun into a type of cord/string, (kind of like this video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BaIxqZQZlM
and then wrapping another cord the opposite direction to give it a kind of diamond shape (i lose anyone yet? not sure how else to put it...) i figure if i do that, it will give it better grip. any ideas? has anyone you know done it before?

[LoHo]

You might want to use something intended to be a grip, as in a leather tennis grip. There are some with a raised bead through them that give them a design aspect.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Paci...-PPLATPBK.html

[Shacknasty]

I've done a couple of leather wrapped grips but not quite like yer describing. I cut a piece that is slightly smaller than the diameter needed, punch the holes for sewing, wet the leather and sew onto the grips using waxed linen thread. The wet leather will stretch slightly and shrinks to a tight fit when it dries. In the past I've used veg tanned tooling leather and even pre-dyed leather that I cut from a couch that was being thrown away. In other words, it doesn't matter what kind of leather you use.

If ya wanna see I can take a pic of a set that's waiting to go on a build. Make sure ya post pics of whatever you come up with, por favor hombre.

[fredintoon]

Hi Shockman,
can you still buy leather bootlaces where you live? That'd be easier than slicing up leather sheet.
Try braiding the grip like on a Samurai sword, there must be somewhere on the net that shows how to do that.

[Schming]

Hint: take a jaunt down or up to your local big crafts supplier, they sell leather lacing in a few colors

[Shockman54]

yeah, i would love to see pics of whatever you've done shack. i also though about braiding it on with the laces, but i decided to go with what i have first to see if it works. appreciate the suggestion though.