How to glue leather filigree to backing?

[AEBL]

When I think about gluing two pieces of leather together, I usually think about putting contact cement on both sides, waiting a bit for the glue to dry, and then pressing them together.
With leather filigree (i.e., I cut holes in it for decorative purposes), if I put contact cement on the side that will show through ... I'll also see glue there ... and that'll be not good.

How do people glue filigree to the backing?

[fredk]

Have you tried sheets of double-sided tape. Put it on the leather you are going to cut so it gets cut at the same time. Cut the second protective backing in small sections and peel off these sections, that way you can position it carefully before removing the rest of the backing and sticking it down. Roll a brayer over it a few times

I've been using the sheets of d/s tape for some time now and its very handy and with no mess

[AEBL]

@fredk - do you mean sheets like "heat bond"? There is a thread on this board that you were a contributor to that mentioned that. I was also wondering if anyone could say if the spray glue technique worked well.

 

Edited February 25 by AEBL

[fredk]

1 hour ago, AEBL said:

. . . do you mean sheets like "heat bond"?

No, like regular double-sided tape but in sheets. I have A4 and A5 sizes

[chuck123wapati]

I would glue the outer piece then while it's still a bit wet, as in darn near dry, apply it to the under piece. Filigree is sewn around all the edges so in this case the glue isn't necessary for strength its just to allow you to sew it.

[DoogMeister]

I've used Feibing's leathercraft cement.  Looks like white glue. Apply to the filligree side and press together until set, let dry overnight before using.

[Beehive]

I wouldn't trust a single glue to hold it for age. Glue, either contact or white glue will start to give up after 10years. You usually don't notice anything because the places that got glue are backed up with stitching. 

I have an old piece of belt scrap that had a suede liner. I used the best contact cement I had back in the day. I didn't play around. I was using c-clamps to press things together. I'd almost crush things. Rough side to rough side. 

Coming across that belt scrap recently. After 20+ years. The contact cement has degraded to powder. Other items with two part epoxy are still doing ~ok. 

 

Long story short. If you want it to last. Back up the glue with stitches.

[dikman]

What Chuck said, you don't have to apply contact cement to both surfaces to use it. You could just coat one piece and put them together while wet but you would have to be careful not to move the piece until it is dry.