While my new molded leather tong handle grip is still 50-60% wet, I began to lace it on using round braided boot laces. It’s all I could find till I order some blue braided lace to match my kettle.
With the 8oz. leather still being wet, this makes it easy to shape it around the stainless steel Weber tong while lacing it tightly. At this point, fabricating a two part forming mold might have been overkill. I’ll have to try cutting out a flat piece of leather and wet form it while just lacing it on tightly. This would eliminate the steps involved in fabricating a forming jig.
My new leather handle grip is a pretty straight forward installment. One might not need to dismantle the Weber tongs apart to do the install. The results of this new simplified leather grip is fantastic. I think it’s a little bit plain right now and can use some decorative stitching, dye, edges burnished and a detailed hand painted Weber logo. More to come.
Chris