Won't glue?

[Thadrick]

I ordered some of this https://tandyleather.com/products/designer-smooth-side?variant=45452955418755  in candy apple red to make bags for my dirt bike. Why won't glue stick to it? It's fairly thin so I'm doubling the leather rough side glued to rough side but the glue doesn't hold. I'm using weldwood glue and has been working well on other leathers. Why not working on this? 

[fredk]

I tried going to that link to check out the leather but the Tandy website keeps redirecting me to the UK site which doesn't have that leather

Any hoo, it sounds like the leather might have oil on it or in it. It might be intentional or accidental

I had a piece of leather that wouldn't take contact glue and stick. Other pieces cut from the same hide were fine with the glue

What I did was give the piece a good cleaning with acetone. That seemed to cure the problem. I don't think Feibings Dye Prep or anything similar would have been aggressive enuf for the job

 

[Thadrick]

That's interesting,  After leaving it glued under weight for several hours the table top had an oil slick , I thought  it was glue residual but your comment about oil sounds correct. 

 How would I wash 3 sides of leather and how will it effect the color  and longevity of the leather? At the present time, it matches the color of my bike seat and graphics perfectly.  

The last batch of red leather (different brand) I used for bike bags faded to brown in only one summer (it was always protected under a 4duck canvas tarp I built for it except when riding). Will this leather fade to brown or worse yet pink if I wash the oil out?

41 minutes ago, fredk said:

I tried going to that link to check out the leather but the Tandy website keeps redirecting me to the UK site which doesn't have that leather

Any hoo, it sounds like the leather might have oil on it or in it. It might be intentional or accidental

I had a piece of leather that wouldn't take contact glue and stick. Other pieces cut from the same hide were fine with the glue

What I did was give the piece a good cleaning with acetone. That seemed to cure the problem. I don't think Feibings Dye Prep or anything similar would have been aggressive enuf for the job

 

 

[fredk]

The piece of leather I treated with acetone was a piece of veg tan that I had dyed. I wet a clean rag with the acetone and wiped it over the leather a couple of times. It didn't take any dye out nor change the colour

I would suggest you first try it out on a piece cut from each of the hides you have. If it works then use it to clean each piece after its cut and shaped and just before you glue it

The other cleaner I use is cellulose thinners, aka lacquer thinners. It is a much more aggressive cleaner and will take dye out. Thats when I use it. I have things made 25 years ago of the leather that got a real wetting with the cellulose and they are still good. No change in the temper or colour of the leather

[kgg]

7 hours ago, Thadrick said:

It's fairly thin so I'm doubling the leather rough side glued to rough side but the glue doesn't hold.

What I found too work the best whether it is chrome or veg tan is to apply one coat of contact cement let sit to soak into and dry. Then apply a second coat and when it has dried to the point of not being sticky to the touch put both pieces together, clamp or weight down depending on the size. My theory is the first coat seals the fibres of the leather and the second binds both pieces together.

kgg

 

[Thadrick]

Thanks guys, Ill try what you suggest and see what works. If no luck maybe Ill have to switch to apholstery?  Especially if they keep fading out after only a years time. 

[DieselTech]

Buy a couple hundred binder clips & hold your project together with them. As you are sewing remove 1 or2 clips at a time & continue to sew it together 

[Thadrick]

45 minutes ago, DieselTech said:

Buy a couple hundred binder clips & hold your project together with them. As you are sewing remove 1 or2 clips at a time & continue to sew it together 

Just leave the leather unlaminated?