DIY Almarc-like leather handlebar cover

[predki]

Another one done, on Favori:

 

[non-fixie]

I missed his thread the first time around. Thanks, guys, for sharing your tips and the wonderful craftsmanship!

 

[Turbotandem]

Re:

Nicely done! Baseball stitch in blue to match the frame looks nice. Curves came out nice and the seam is nicely aligned accentuating the shape of the bars.

 

[predki]

Just another one. This one was very hard... firstly I used very thick and hard leather, and cut 2mm less than circumference and I couldn't stretch it to bring the edges together. I went up to brake lever and if it wasn't looking well and after reaching that point it became completely terrible, over 3 mm gap... so I had to remove it, cut another wider piece and restart from begining... so for measured 75mm circumference I cut 77mm wide piece. When I restarted it seemed that it will be too wide, but after reaching bend it was just perfect I would say... GB brake levers have very thick clamp and I couldn't get the edges together, but there's not so big gap (a 1 mm for about 10mm in the clamp area) and I fitted a piece of black insulation tape in that area, so it's nicely covered and not so visible. GB levers clamps were very hard to work around them as well, but in the end everything finished well. Some photos:

 

[Turbotandem]

Just another one. This one was very hard... firstly I used very thick and hard leather, and cut 2mm less than circumference and I couldn't stretch it to bring the edges together. I went up to brake lever and if it wasn't looking well

your photos did not come thru. I'd be interested in seeing them.

 

[531brazed]

Tremendous stuff. I wish I had the patience

 

[predki]

Photos should be working now

 

[Turbotandem]

Re:

nicely done! I appreciate the difficulty dealing with the brake mount. My first attempt in white in this forum accommodated both mount, under wrap brake cables and a bit of padding. My latest I should post pictures of with padding, cables and DI2, and a set on cobrawings extreme shape. Didn't come out quite a neat as yours, but delt with the same issue of varying the wrap circumference as it progressed from tops to drops. Look for it posted soon.

 

[Turbotandem]

A different sort of project. Ultra-distance gravel tandem. Rear bars are cobra wings using a one piece butterfly pattern and dual seams to bridge the wide areas. Front are over oval bar tops, brake cables and Di2 wires. Both wraps over gel bar pads. Patterns took a lot of time to develop appropriate circumference and to punch the exact same number of holes for stitching the baseball pattern. It didn't come out perfect as some of the graceful examples on this site, but pretty good for the challenge and it makes the bike come alive.

 

[Deleted member 24574]

Re:

My leather has arrived so going to make a start on mine over the weekend. Definitely a bargain way of doing it, I've seen kits for the same style at £25 each :shock:

I feel such a fool now for buying one of those kits for £25