What thread for stitching leather?

[Del the cat]

I usually use braided cord on leather grips but it's a tad thin and I don't have much left.
 What stuff do you guys use? Is leather cord strong enough? 1mm or 2mm?
I fancy something a tad chunkier than I'm using at the moment, although the leather I use for the grips is fairly thin... I cut it from a leather sofa (The guy in the store was furious... . Nah it was in a skip really)
Del

[juniper junkie]

i like to use artificial sinew, it is tough and looks good.

[George Tsoukalas]

Art. sinew and I separate the strands. Jawge

[sadiejane]

ditto on the artificial sinew. full strength or separate depending on thickness of leather im stitching.
it also comes in many colors these days so can add a nice contrast if you like.
even tho it is fairly heavily waxed, i do wax further if it's gonna be on something that will be in the weather lots.(like bow grips and quivers)

[Josh]

Same as above but have been known to de-strand old b-50 bowstrings and repurpose them for stitching too for different colors.     Works great and is tough to boot!

[bubby]

for string I use art. sinew or b-50, but for a beefier grip I will cut my lace from the same leather as the grip and lace it the opposite side out of the main grip, Bub

[Del the cat]

Good stuff guys cheers.
I looked up AS and when I saw a pic I though 'I have some of that!' It's just called 'waxed nylon lacing cord' from the 60's when I used to work testing radar, it was used for lacing the cable harnesses (they prob use plastic ties now).
I managed to find it!
I've just done the grip with it and it looks great, a nice contrast with the dark leather. I new that scrap end of reel that I had would come in handy one day !
@ Bubby. I like the idea of cutting leather strip, but I'd never work out how long it needed to be!
Del

[bubby]

Del, if ya ever want to do it just make the lace 3 times the length of the handle plus what ya want hanging, Bub

[Del the cat]

Thanks for the tip...
Del

[toomanyknots]

I use anything that it strong. I dislike artifical sinew for leather lacing and prefer a more bulky cord for lacing leather. My favorite right now is a type of cotton yarn, or it says yarn on the package, but it is obviously cord. Get it from hobby lobby in the yarn isle. I wax it with beeswax and it works great.

[AllanM]

Hi Del, sorry didn't get much time to talk to you at Sunday's shoot. I recently replaced two grips on my bows and used cordwainers linen thread, very strong and easy to use and looks natural. Leather was from a good stock of offcuts used by Pip Bickerstaffe to pack out my longbow he sent me! Really good stuff. 
cheers
Allan

[Del the cat]

Hi Del, sorry didn't get much time to talk to you at Sunday's shoot. I recently replaced two grips on my bows and used cordwainers linen thread, very strong and easy to use and looks natural. Leather was from a good stock of offcuts used by Pip Bickerstaffe to pack out my longbow he sent me! Really good stuff. 
cheers
Allan

Yeah, that was a good shoot, got a bit damp and chilly at the end. The Goat over the pond was a nice shot and I eventually killed that Centurion 
You swine I'm going to have to look up wahat a Cordwainer is now... D'oh.
Del

[Ifrit617]

Yep I like to use artificial sinew too...it's strong, looks good, and is easy to Tie off.

[AllanM]

Hi Del, sorry didn't get much time to talk to you at Sunday's shoot. I recently replaced two grips on my bows and used cordwainers linen thread, very strong and easy to use and looks natural. Leather was from a good stock of offcuts used by Pip Bickerstaffe to pack out my longbow he sent me! Really good stuff. 
cheers
Allan

Yeah, that was a good shoot, got a bit damp and chilly at the end. The Goat over the pond was a nice shot and I eventually killed that Centurion 
You swine I'm going to have to look up wahat a Cordwainer is now... D'oh.
Del

Cordwainer= cobblers to you!

[crooketarrow]

   I like to use real sinew steer or elk it's long enough and wet it as well as your leather handle when you put it on a it really tightens when it drys. You  don't add any glue it stops it from swrinking up some. You don't have to And I think it looks a little more primitive.