Glueing skinny straps

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

Okay, sorry if my tone is a bit different in this post, but I just ruined 2 straps (4pcs) in a row because the straps were nudged ever so slightly and the grain got glue on it. I would be able to bevel it off on a wider strap, but taking ⅛” in on both sides of a ½” strap is what I would call unacceptable. 
So just how do you glue a ½” x 60”+ strap without getting glue on the grain?

AZR

[PeterinID]

I glue first and then trim to size.

[chuck123wapati]

12 minutes ago, ThisIsMyFirstRodeo said:

So just how do you glue a ½” x 60”+ strap without getting glue on the grain?

AZR

use tape

Edited February 3 by chuck123wapati

[chuck123wapati]

https://tandyleather.com/collections/adhesives/products/2535-650-tanners-bond-adhesive-tape

[kgg]

1 hour ago, ThisIsMyFirstRodeo said:

So just how do you glue a ½” x 60”+ strap without getting glue on the grain?

Interesting, I'm just finishing two 6' dog leads one is 1/2"  and the other is 3/4". The 1/2" lead only had the interior of the hand and the fold over section at the clip end glued but was still sewn along the edges with V138 bonded nylon. The 3/4" x 6' was two pieces of 6.5 oz glue together and sewn along the edges along the edges with V138 bonded nylon. How I glued:

i) I have a slightly raised metal edge along the edge of my work table that I push the strap up against

ii) I use a small piece of 3/4" x 3/4" x 10" long aluminum angle that I push up against the other edge of the strap.

iii) I apply contact cement to the strap basically in 10" sections as I move the 10" AL angle along the length. w and let dry then reapply a second coat of contact cement.

iv) Then I hang the strap of the door to the room to dry.

v) Wipe the metal edging and 10" AL angle so there is no excess contact cement.

vi) Lay the second piece up against the raised edge and apply contact cement and hang the strap over the door.

vii) Clean metal edges and apply a second coat to the first strap. Rinse and repeat for the second strap. Let dry hanging over door. I do two coats as I have found the first coat gets sucked into the leather and sometimes doesn't bond properly.

viii) Clean metal edges and lay a strap up against the work table edge.

ix) Apply second strap to the first strap in small sections while pushing both straps up against the work table raised edge, like one inch or less lengths.

x) I then use a 4" metal roller to roll the complete strap to get rid of any possible bubbles. I robbed my roller from the kitchen draw, I guess it was supposedly used for baking.   

xi) I then have a flat piece of metal that I put on top of the now freshly glued strap and clamp it down for about 24 hours to cure under pressure.

xii) I then sew along the edges, about 4 or 5mm in, with V138 bonded nylon.

58 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

use tape

I do like that idea and will try incorporating it on the next one.

kgg   

Edited February 3 by kgg

[chuck123wapati]

54 minutes ago, kgg said:

Interesting, I'm just finishing two 6' dog leads one is 1/2"  and the other is 3/4". The 1/2" lead only had the interior of the hand and the fold over section at the clip end glued but was still sewn along the edges with V138 bonded nylon. The 3/4" x 6' was two pieces of 6.5 oz glue together and sewn along the edges along the edges with V138 bonded nylon. How I glued:

i) I have a slightly raised metal edge along the edge of my work table that I push the strap up against

ii) I use a small piece of 3/4" x 3/4" x 10" long aluminum angle that I push up against the other edge of the strap.

iii) I apply contact cement to the strap basically in 10" sections as I move the 10" AL angle along the length. w and let dry then reapply a second coat of contact cement.

iv) Then I hang the strap of the door to the room to dry.

v) Wipe the metal edging and 10" AL angle so there is no excess contact cement.

vi) Lay the second piece up against the raised edge and apply contact cement and hang the strap over the door.

vii) Clean metal edges and apply a second coat to the first strap. Rinse and repeat for the second strap. Let dry hanging over door. I do two coats as I have found the first coat gets sucked into the leather and sometimes doesn't bond properly.

viii) Clean metal edges and lay a strap up against the work table edge.

ix) Apply second strap to the first strap in small sections while pushing both straps up against the work table raised edge, like one inch or less lengths.

x) I then use a 4" metal roller to roll the complete strap to get rid of any possible bubbles. I robbed my roller from the kitchen draw, I guess it was supposedly used for baking.   

xi) I then have a flat piece of metal that I put on top of the now freshly glued strap and clamp it down for about 24 hours to cure under pressure.

xii) I then sew along the edges, about 4 or 5mm in, with V138 bonded nylon.

I do like that idea and will try incorporating it on the next one.

kgg   

lol with tape

1. Apply tape; you can even buy repositionable tape,  sew. I doubt it takes a minute to use the tape. And no glue on the grain side!!!!

[AlZilla]

2 hours ago, PeterinID said:

I glue first and then trim to size.

Simplicity. Very nice.

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

On 2/3/2026 at 9:12 AM, chuck123wapati said:

use tape

So Chuck, I have used the tape before (on wider straps and other pieces) with somewhat mixed results.
For straps, mainly that there’s no hiding the tape in the edge profile of the strap (was taping across the width, edge to edge). Perhaps that might be where edge paint comes into play… (squirrel runs off…).
I’ve also tried tape without going all the way to the edges, and on other projects, a combo of glue and tape which gave my best edges when sanded. I’ve even used tacky spray (great concept, terrible results as far as adhesion is concerned).

But, if you’re recommending tape, then I assume I’m using it wrong. Are there basic guidelines that a less-experienced worker would miss, or is the tape as obvious as it seems? (Sometimes the blatantly obvious is lost on me. Something about the forest and trees…)

Thanks,

AZR

[Hildebrand]

I use the double sided tape with zippers to hold them in place, when I use it I run a strip full length of the piece.  If I were doing 1/2" strips I would be tempted to run 2 strips, one down each side just inside where I planned to sew.

Todd

[chuck123wapati]

 Tape has its place; I don't use it all the time, but I think it is the right tool for the job in this case.

Edited February 4 by chuck123wapati