rootboy 

Thanks to all you guys. OK. Lets' see;

Well equipped for mold making? Me? Heh, not me Big Block. But thanks. Not much in the way of local suppliers near these small, sandy villages off the beaten path. But I'm liking the look of some of that rubber rod linked to.

I am wet molding the leather. Those hoods in the pics are my second prototype and thus, still a work in progress. Had to set those aside while I built my outbuilding but now I can get back into them in earnest. They have proven to be quite tricky. It took me 5 pattern changes to get them this close and so far, only working on Nuovo Record levers. I have to thank Rudi for his valuable input...and still owe him a set... and will be trying out a couple more sets in the next couple of weeks.

rootboy 

Thanks Joe. I'll shoot you a PM. Haven't really decided on a price for the brake hoods yet and although I tried dying a set I'm not really pleased with the result. I'm of the opinion that dying leather is usually a compromise and that it takes a real pro to do it well. So far I've just left them natural, as in the picture. Like I say, I am only working with Record levers so far, but I might try a set for MAFAC levers in the future.
Thanks kindly Joe.

rootboy 

A set of plugs, Gomango? or hoods?
Thanks amigo.

S.

rootboy 

Thank you! Aaron.
I'll send you a PM.

Scott

JPZ66

Campy NR brake hoods in leather work for me....want a vintage Balilla brake lever assy to use as a model ? Very simple....mostly straight and squarish..... Would be awesome for a couple of old Italian bikes I have !
I will await your PM....


Joe

gomango

Two sets of plugs please.

As for the hoods, I have a call into my bike buddy Tommy in China.

He bought a JP Weigle recently and these would be so cool.

7/8timing

Hey rootboy. those bar plugs look pretty swanky. when you wet forming your leather, how/what are you using to keep the leather tight against the brake lever body? I tried this a few times and found that the leather wasnt getting tight enough to really stay in shape/place for very long even after sewing them tighter.

campngolf

I feel so inadequate.

repechage

No, iPod speakers though I could see. You could have a steam locomotive recording and the Ride of the Valkyries audio files on hand, great for when you pass guys going uphill.

repechage

Removing the end plugs will be easier if you relieve the vacuum.

I have been working on some leather hoods too for Campagnolo levers, I am adding pretty hard closed cell foam to the top of the hood to change the feel of the levers when you are riding on the hoods, way back that was my most discomfort with Campagnolo levers, Mafacs felt a bit better so in looking at them in profile that is what gave me the concept to add material under the hood.

spacemanz

Ha, I just put some old Mafac levers on the Bertin. The levers also came with Weinmann centerpull calipers, which are probably fine, but I used Golden Arrow (105) on the Bertin. Boy, I'd love to get some of those leather hoods in darker brown, they'd rock with my brown suede saddle.

Bikedued

I'll take a pair?,,,,,BD

Zinger

Wanna know how to turn brass without slinging it all over your hair and down your shirt ? Use a left hand brazed carbide upside down with the spindle in reverse so that it slings it into the chip pan instead.

Try not to forget which way to turn the spindle on, when you do that, every chance you get.

Luv those hoods, btw.
The plugs came out lookin' good too.

rootboy 

7/8. Well, I don't really use anything, as that pair you see in the pic is a prototype pair. Do you mean, after they've dried? That's a good question as these tend to dry to a very hard, firm shell, and there is no elasticity to keep it hugging the lever like with rubber. Have to think about that one.

rootboy 

Heh, I thought of that last night. "Wish I had drilled a tiny hole at the center." If you look at the top of those hoods, Repechage, you'll see a slight hump. I molded this set with a 1/8 piece of leather in between the leather and the hood, for padding. But a small piece of rubber or closed cell is a good idea.

I'm now musing about 7/8's concern, regarding keeping them in place. Although these fit like gloves, I haven't ridden these as of yet. Still fine tuning the shape. And the fit. With all the compound curves and the idiosyncrasies of the leather when its wet, this may be the most difficult thing I've ever tried in leather.
To get the fit just right.

rootboy 

Thanks Joe,
I'll send you a PM.

northbend 

Those leather hoods look great, Root! If you do make a batch to sell. I'd order some..

ScottRyder 

RB, those plugs are gorgeous .. wow, an aluminum version would be great with the circles filled in with paint ...

Hoods ... I have a set of these, unmounted Too nice to use! Sort of. Next time we get together I'll show them to you.



Scott

rootboy 

That Japanese guy is very talented, eh Scott? Especially when you look closely at his rolled and burnished edges. Plus, that almost looks like chrome tanned leather, very difficult to get it to edge finish like that, but it could be vegetable tanned, dyed yellow. Very nice.

rootboy 

Thank you NorthBend. Wow. You guys are overwhelming me with your praise, not to mention orders! It was probably a bit pre-mature to post the hoods as I'm still working them out but now that I'm freed up a little bit, and cold weather is coming on, I'm going to make some of these and will let you guys know as I get them done. Again, my thanks for all the support.

Darth Lefty 

Shut up and take my money

rootboy 

Ha! Good one. I'd love to, and will. This was supposed to be more of a show and tell thread than a sales pitch and you guys caught me off guard, but I'll whip the elves and give them their dose and start bending leather.

BlueDevil63 

Fantastic work as always Scott.

JPZ66

Have you developed a logo ?....you need a leather stamp to emboss your logo on the side there....!

Joe

Wildwood 

I'd buy a set brass plugs.
Also the hoods.