thanks a whole lot for the compliments fellas
susqua- i made the stain from mashing and soaking some hulls in water for a day, then i boiled it down till it got real concentrated, then i mixed it about 50 \50 with rubbing alcohol. i keep it in a pickle jar. when i cut the leather to size, i drop it in the jar for about 15 minutes. then pull out and dab it with a paper towel
oldbow- the tips work a bit, not a whole lot, but i do think they work some. hard to say for sure since they are so tight.
Dan, yes i steamed the tips, for about half hour each over a pot of water.