Leather covers for wheel

[davidfox]

My leather wheel cover has started to unravel i.e the stitching has obviously rotted, i am not sure about the integrity of the leather,it looks ok perhaps a bit green in places, but has anyone just restitched theirs? and if so, what thread is best and would you leave the cover on and stitch over the rotton stitches removing after or take them out first.
Advice please.

 

[sailorman]

My leather wheel cover has started to unravel i.e the stitching has obviously rotted, i am not sure about the integrity of the leather,it looks ok perhaps a bit green in places, but has anyone just restitched theirs? and if so, what thread is best and would you leave the cover on and stitch over the rotton stitches removing after or take them out first.
Advice please.

you need John the Rigger from Fox`s
he makes saddlery as a hobby & does the odd wheel cover, he does a super job

 

[AIDY]

I put a new leather cover on myself from Clyde marine Leather (Google IT). It's quite easy to do, just time consuming.... I also had some leather left over and stitched it to the grab handles of my canopy frame.... I bought extra thread from kyrospruce.....

 

[pvb]

My leather wheel cover has started to unravel i.e the stitching has obviously rotted, i am not sure about the integrity of the leather,it looks ok perhaps a bit green in places, but has anyone just restitched theirs? and if so, what thread is best and would you leave the cover on and stitch over the rotton stitches removing after or take them out first.
Advice please.

You need waxed polyester thread. I'd remove the old stitching first. It's an easy enough job, if a little time-consuming. If the leather is rotten, however, you'll be wasting your time and might as well get a new cover.

 

[emandvee44]

Just going through this excercise!
The stitching on our wheel covers has failed in several places.
I am going to use Marlow No. 4 waxed thread and a suitable needle, which has just been identified. We (SWMBO) and I looked at all the needles we have and decided a tapestry needle would be best, as it does not have a sharp point (which you do not need as the holes are already there) but it does have a large eye so easy to thread it.

Our wheel covers are in sections, joined at the spoke positions so we will sew one section at a time, using the original zig zag pattern/holes and one piece of thread for each section. Sew one set of ´zigs´leaving enough thread outside to do the ´zags´, then when complete tension the thread towards the ends, tie them together and bury them.

Should not take her too long

Cheers,

Michael.

 

[KellysEye]

I would remove the old stitches and use Dabond UV resistant thread, which Jane uses when making our canvas. If the holes are big enough stitch twice.

 

[lotusman]

Just going through this excercise!
Sew one set of ´zigs´leaving enough thread outside to do the ´zags´, then when complete tension the thread towards the ends, tie them together and bury them.

That's interesting, I used one piece of thread but two needles, one on each end of the thread and pulled tight as I went.

 

[AIDY]

I used double sided stickie tape to stick the cover to the wheel before sewing. held it nicely in position.

 

[Tranona]

Should not take her too long

We did a job share on ours (using a kit from a Dutch company). I did the tightening bit. Lovely job in the spring sunshine in Greece - and reward was a beer (or glass of wine) after each section.

 

[Tradewinds]

you need John the Rigger from Fox`s
he makes saddlery as a hobby & does the odd wheel cover, he does a super job

Any idea what he might charge me for a 30" dia oval section (Edson) .
PM if you want.

 

[sailorman]

Any idea what he might charge me for a 30" dia oval section (Edson) .
PM if you want.

pm me or wingdiver your contact details & we can pass them on
he has done one that i have seen & its a fine job

 

[wklein]

Here is one I did recently for an oyster,
http://www.riggingsolutionsdartmouth.co.uk/leather-wheel
You can buy reels of pre-punched leather which cuts out a huge amount of the work. Learn how to do the baseball stitch and you should be fine.

 

[Tradewinds]

Here is one I did recently for an oyster,
http://www.riggingsolutionsdartmouth.co.uk/leather-wheel
You can buy reels of pre-punched leather which cuts out a huge amount of the work. Learn how to do the baseball stitch and you should be fine.

Oooh, that's a nice job.

Got a BIG project on this summer so have no time to do this myself (I did one on my Moody years ago).

I won't be needing the wheel for a while

 

[wingdiver]

PM received and passed to John
His website is here - http://www.johnspear.co.uk/index.php There's even a wheel in the gallery.
D

 

[Tradewinds]

Thanks

 

[dulcibella]

Why not cover the wheel with a nice-coloured cord whipping instead, with a contrasting turk's head to mark the top dead centre position?

 

[AllanG]

I can highly recommend Keith Taylor at:

http://www.leatherhelmwheels.co.uk

He covered my 30" wheel, complete with a Turks Head for central rudder position, a few years ago, and the cost was only £5 more than a DIY kit.....overall it was a superb job!

Allan

 

[davidfox]

you need John the Rigger from Fox`s
he makes saddlery as a hobby & does the odd wheel cover, he does a super job

How much are we talking here, do you know by any chance?

 

[sailorman]

How much are we talking here, do you know by any chance?

enquire via John`s web site would be the best way.
a mention of the YBW might indicate where you got his details
http://www.johnspear.co.uk/index.php

 

[uxb]

I put a new leather cover on myself from Clyde marine Leather (Google IT). It's quite easy to do, just time consuming.... I also had some leather left over and stitched it to the grab handles of my canopy frame.... I bought extra thread from kyrospruce.....

I got a kit from them as well- highly reccomended. I took the wheel home and stiched it on one winters evening. I didn't need to use any double sided tape - just kept checking it was lined up OK every few stitches.