Quote: I suspect you make the leather wet before you stretch it over the pad and let it dry than.
You are correct.
Quote: what will you do when having the original stock? you cant fix it than with staples.
Just use correct size grinded piece of plywood and piece of broom-stick attached to it. With that method you don´t staple the leather, just tighten it with cord round the stick. But if I have the original stock with me I have more ways to attach the pad to it´s place.