Anyone re-covered a spade-grip?

Supermarine Aeroengineering in Stoke have developed a method of covering the grips thats looks exactly as per original, perhaps its worth speaking to them,see..

http://www.supermarine.net/

Ken

Here is my one redone:

It is rather nice (not by me sadly)….must apologise for grammar….in a exec lounge drinking wine on way home!!! I am luckiliy…NOT flying the plane!!!

I use a fine twine as a basis……and then build up a thin layer of Metallic. I smooth it with my finger and then use a sharp side of a file to make multiple grooves – it is very hard and resistant…..Paul Cole (another Hurri nut) has done stuff too.

Early Dunlop grips used a thermoset bakelite covering which (I think) was created on a wax proof backing and then wrapped around the grip and sealed with a hot iron. Later grips put down a thin, fine (I mean Egyptian cotton fine) fabric first and then the thermoset type covering on top.
Many in service repairs (particularly later Spit grips where the tubes in the left hand side (as seen by pilot) move/flex and break the covering have string wrapped around and then secured in place with some kind of varnish (or for modern use painted on resin).
The best replica covering I have ever seen has been done by Roy Bonser.

Up to the Tornado GRI, Dunlop still used the same grip finish.

Epoxy

I have seen two part epoxy resin used for this in the past – built up rough to the required depth, a small file used for obtaining the surface finish required and then finished off with a suitable paint.

I have found the black fabric superior handle bar tape used by serious cyclists of yesteryear can be bound and built up to a very good substitute.

Must be the fabric tape, not the plastic.

Mark