using glue with leather

[stampingdelight]

does anyone use glue with leather working if so, what type of glue has everyone found works best when gluing leather together? or is it not good to use glue with leather?

[fredk]

Just about everyone on here uses glue. Usually a good contact glue. The make depends on where you live. the brands I use are UHU and Evostick. I also use PVA glue

[AlZilla]

For me, whatever contact cement the hardware store has on the shelf. At the moment, Weldwood, I think? Something like that.

[fredk]

2 hours ago, stampingdelight said:

. . .  or is it not good to use glue with leather?

if it was good enuf for the Vikings its good enuf for me   

[Hags]

Weld wood from the hardware store if it's going be wet molded. I also use the white version if not. It's supposed to save a few brain cells. I also use the double sided tape I get from Makers Supply. 3M stuff and holds very well. 

[stampingdelight]

@Hags never used double sided tape, will have to try. now would the double sided tape like you use with fabric would that be the same. and thanks to everyon for the help. 

[Hags]

No. I tried it. My wife had some and it is not nearly strong enough. I also tried the stuff from Springfield or weaver and that was OK, but doesn't hold a candle to the 3m stuff.

[Digit]

I use lots of water-based contact adhesive on leather and double-sided tape only when I need to combine textile and leather (eg zippers). I use double-sided tape because glue would wick through the textile and become visible. Note that tape adds more thickness than glue and glue is easier than tape to manoeuver around curved edges.

Both glue and leather for me are tools to keep stuff together for stitching. I'd never use glue alone for keeping things together. While a properly applied good adhesive should never come loose, that only applies to the few fibers of leather it contacts, the rest of the thickness of the leather can still rip through depending on the foce applied. The thread of a stich goes all the way through the leather and keeps the layers together accross the entire thickness.

[Handstitched]

Just as AlZilla said, I use what ever the hardware has, a good quality  contact  adhesive.   Making sure all surfaces are clean and free of any oil, a quick wipe over with some acetone .Using contact is like having an extra  pair of hands .

HS

[fredk]

On 2/6/2026 at 1:21 AM, stampingdelight said:

@Hags never used double sided tape, will have to try. now would the double sided tape like you use with fabric would that be the same. and thanks to everyon for the help. 

yup, it works fine. I use d/s tape I got in a £shop, 3 rolls of 19mm x something for £2

edit; I forgot to say you can buy sheets of d/s tape. I keep and use sheets about 8 inches by 6 inches. They're very handy for sticking fabric lining on to leather

Edited 18 hours ago by fredk