OK, here is the final. I cut 3/4 inch copper pipe, perfect tight slip fit over the tubes. rounded, sanded etc. epoxy in place.
then coated with Home depot zinc coating paint.
.
The tubes were flush to the top, hard to grasp, cut a 1 inch piece of wine cork pushed inside raided them up.
the leather cover fits it all perfectly
don't laugh, I have the flu and am stuck in the house for a week. Ken
PS use a black permanent marker to darken the white thread.