Do you guys soak the leather in warm water before you fit it? I use warm water to wet mine and then I have a jig (I cut from a 2X4 which is smaller around than the pad) to mount the pad to and then I put it in a vise. I then use thumb tacks and tack it around the pad and hang it up for a few days to dry. Then the leather will shrink and fit tightly around the pad when you go to glue it up. I use the same method of gluing it as CJ does- cutting angles to keep it from bunching. I then cut leather into four cornered(pointed) stars to cover the plugs and then glue it on. Then when it is dry, I glue the plug into the hole. I use a small screwdriver to get the plugs down into the holes by pushing the leather down around the sides. I put glue down under the plug, that way you can get the plug to the right depth and the glue will hold it in place.
