Cork Handle

[DC]

I built up a handle with cork on a bendy handle bow. What can I finish it with that won't defeat the purpose but will harden/toughen the handle to keep it from chipping and such? I was thinking of soaking it with CA but I thought that may limit the amount that it can bend.

[PatM]

Many leave cork bare but you can do a really tight thin leather cover or cordage binding over it.

[High-Desert]

Are you covering the cork with leather? I've used polyurethane and truoil on the cork just like the rest of the bow and it has work just fine

[Stick Bender]

I just did one I soaked with CA as I was building it up so I could shape it easy and wrapped in a cane wrap bends the same as not being there !

[DC]

Actually I was thinking of leaving it bare but only because I leave my handles bare most of the time. Covering it never crossed my mind, duh. Thanks

[upstatenybowyer]

I once covered a cork handle build up with really thin leather off a jacket I bought at a thrift store. It was great cause the leather was thin enough to stretch and wrap tightly around the cork. 

[PatM]

Old garments, gloves and boots are a great source of thin and tough leather.

[DC]

That's about all I've got in my leather bag is old jackets. I once missed a fat womans full length suede coat. I think there was two cows in it. It was on half price. $30. I thought it was too much. It wan't there when I smartened up and went back.

[PatM]

If you shape your cork and then coat it with contact cement and then do the same with the leather you can stretch the leather on and have it fit like skin.

[DC]

When you do that Pat, do you cut it to size first or leave it oversized and trim it later?

[PatM]

I leave it a little oversized since it will change shape when stretched.. You can trim any overlap after.

[chamookman]

I built up a handle on a Yew stave one time - used 1/8" cork coasters from the thrift store. Used Titebond II - glueing up the layers & then coating the whole thing after sanding  . Bob