Thanks , all my lanterns get one , just a leather sleeve laced/stitched on , that Tilley was the only bail I had to cut out for the sharp bend
No one wants to learn/do their own "baseball stitch" on them . There's already bail / handle covers on eBay but those are pre-laced and useless unless you have a removable bail
The reason I was asking is that I have hand/eye coordination problems, and with things like this I sometimes need help.
These are nice but come pre-laced , useless on Coleman 220/228 , 327/427 Quicklite's , Tilley's , anything the bail/ handle doesn't come off of , otherwise I punch 35+ holes down each side of a strip of leather and hand stitch them on
Thanks @D_Vernon they do look the part and practical with a handle that rests on the side of the tank the later Tilley lanterns ( x246b ) have a removable handle so could be suitable? I’m a bit crack-handed as well .. :/ thanks pb
Anything is better than metal on metal or metal against a painted fount . Those leather wraps on eBay if I remember right fit fairly loose on my Coleman stuff . It's possible they would slide on to a Tilley bail but I have not tried and if I remember the Tilley bail seems to be a heavier gauge wire so may be a tight fit or struggle sliding on and getting over any bends . Another option if the handle is removable would be heat shrink tubing which comes in a variety of colors , OR you could use the plastic spiral wire wrap if the bail doesn't come off , I've only seen it in black or clear and id probably go with a size close to bail wire diameter so when it's wrapped on it stays in place. Handmade Leather Handle Wrap for Coleman Gas Lantern 200a 200b | eBay https://www.oldcolemanparts.com/sel...-s/200A/bail-wrap-protector-clear-r512-clone- Amazon.com
These may work for you if the handle comes off so you can slide this over the end and to where you want it , , Handmade Leather Handle Wrap for Coleman Gas Lantern 200a 200b | eBay
thanks very much for the links! I will have to get one and see if it will fit over the pointy centre part yes, i’ve seen the use of shrink wrap and it can look good too the spiral wrap is something i haven’t seen before? cheers Edit : hmm, i dont think it will go around that tilley handle.. i would have to do what you did or make my own.. and that wont be happening for a while!!! stiil food for thought though :-)
Only issue with the shrink wrap is it is not very thick or have any padding to it . I did start getting hand/finger cramps when I did more than 3 in a day . I believe I did try a pre-laced on the Tilley and it just got too bunched up on the inside of the bend and too stretched on the outside so I just cut the lacing out , cut that 3/4" x 1/4" oval hole in the middle and still had to stitch it on to the bail , probably wouldn't do another any different, just neater . This small spiral wrap would probably make that bend and still stay flat.
