Gluing to Latigo

[McJeep]

Doing up a tank panel for a buddy. It is going to incorporate an aftermarket ipod case which will need to be fastened to a second removable panel(snaps). Will glue hold to latigo given the treatments that are done to the leather? Ipods aint cheap and I need this to be permanent. The construction of the aftermarket case likely won't let me rivet. Want to use latigo if I can for the weatherproofidity - this guy is not likely to spend a lot of time maintaining it and it's right on top of the tank so it's gonna take a lot of rain and uv :0/

Would contact be the best glue to use?

Thanks folks

Rob

[hidepounder]

I don't like the idea of relying on glued latigo. Latigo will glue, but it's more difficult than gluing veg tan leather....I guess because of the tanning process. If I want a really strong bond to latigo, I use Masters Cement. I also sand the glued area heavily. The type of latigo does make a difference...some latigos have a flesh side that should be split, cut or sanded away. That done, and using Masters, you should get a pretty good bond. I have no qualms about relying on contact cement to hold veg tan together....but latigo is a different animal! I worry about the responisbility of losing an expensive Ipod in a latigo holster that's glued only and has been allowed to weather.....

just my experience with latigo...

Bob

[McJeep]

Hmmmm, this is the reason I posed the question - figgered that as latigo won't take finishes really well, I'd better ask about gluing. I think there may be some "dress" rivets incorporated into the design hehehehe

[esantoro]

I wouldn't want to rely on only glue to hold the case in place. I'd try to use the 3m heavy duty plastic velcro, or snaps, or some kind of buckle attachment.

ed

[hidepounder]

I wouldn't want to rely on only glue to hold the case in place. I'd try to use the 3m heavy duty plastic velcro, or snaps, or some kind of buckle attachment.

ed

I think those are both good Ideas.....

[esantoro]

I re-read the original post that states the need to make this attachment permanent. There must be a way to stitch the case in place. A curved needle may be needed.

ed

I think those are both good Ideas.....

[TwinOaks]

If it's to be a truly permanent piece, how about cutting the tank bib to allow for mounting straps? Simply feed the strap(s) through one slot, under the bib, and wrap back around to a snap or buckle to secure the mounting point. That way you can get around having to try and rivet it, but still have the peace of mind knowing it won't go anywhere the bike doesn't.

Edited June 7, 2009 by TwinOaks

[McJeep]

appreciate all of the points folks - time for some visuals to better explain what I'm building

back in a few minutes LOL

[McJeep]

Hokay ;0)

This is where the panel is going - below the gas cap in the black area

and this is the case I'm attaching to leather - no way could I build a more functional case than this so aftermarket it is ;0) I'd rivet but there's no way for me to get tools inside the case to do it - the clear sections are actually windows, not holes

Here are the templates and pieces - the smaller piece is the one that the ipod case is going to be permanently attached to - that piece will be attached to the bigger panel with three snap fasteners so buddy can remove it from the bike when necessary. The drawing in the middle is how it will look when assembled with the small panel attached near the top of the base panel

So basically what I'm gluing is the rubber case to the small latigo panel

Hopefully the pics are worth a thousand minutes of typing ;0)

Edited June 7, 2009 by McJeep

[esantoro]

You should be able either to rivet or stitch the case into place, perhaps onto a rectangular piece of leather that can be stitched onto the tank panel, unless a full tank wrap is not part of the plan, in which case I would suggest two leather straps that wrap around the tank. Forgive me if I'm not fully understanding the concept you are after.

ed

Hokay ;0)

This is where the panel is going - below the gas cap in the black area

and this is the case I'm attaching to leather - no way could I build a more functional case than this so aftermarket it is ;0) I'd rivet but there's no way for me to get tools inside the case to do it - the clear sections are actually windows, not holes

Here are the templates and pieces - the smaller piece is the one that the ipod case is going to be permanently attached to - that piece will be attached to the bigger panel with three snap fasteners so buddy can remove it from the bike when necessary. The drawing in the middle is how it will look when assembled with the small panel attached near the top of the base panel

So basically what I'm gluing is the rubber case to the small latigo panel

Hopefully the pics are worth a thousand minutes of typing ;0)

[esantoro]

How will the base panel be attached to the tank?

You should be able either to rivet or stitch the case into place, perhaps onto a rectangular piece of leather that can be stitched onto the tank panel, unless a full tank wrap is not part of the plan, in which case I would suggest two leather straps that wrap around the tank. Forgive me if I'm not fully understanding the concept you are after.

ed

[McJeep]

I would stitch the case on (it attaches to the smaller piece of leather) but can't get inside it. The ipod slips in from one end :0/

Base panel will be glued to tank as well (so far) - I can fasten it with rivets or screws if needed

[Regis]

Might I ask what part is latigo? Are you making the the tank panel using latigo?

regis

[esantoro]

It looks as if there is room to mark stitch marks inside the case and then punch the holes by hand. Glue the case to the latigo just to keep it in place while marking stitches and punching holes. Do two rectangular sections: one inside the rectangular cutout, the other inside of the circular cut out.

ed

I would stitch the case on (it attaches to the smaller piece of leather) but can't get inside it. The ipod slips in from one end :0/

Base panel will be glued to tank as well (so far) - I can fasten it with rivets or screws if needed

[McJeep]

Might I ask what part is latigo? Are you making the the tank panel using latigo?

Both pieces are latigo

one inside the rectangular cutout, the other inside of the circular cut out.

That's the problem - they aren't cutouts, they are plastic windows

[esantoro]

Aha. I would then try a few small single capped solid brass jiffy rivets, with proper padding so as not to damage those plastic windows or the front side of the case. I'd also try gluing a bit of thin leather over the brass exposed to the ipod to prohibit scratching.

ed

Both pieces are latigo

That's the problem - they aren't cutouts, they are plastic windows

Edited June 8, 2009 by esantoro

[McJeep]

So I finally got this thing knocked together

I did end up using a double ply of latigo for the main panel and glued it (after a very good sanding - thanks hidepounder). I also found a new contact cement that I really like the properties of - Lepages blue. I also found a really good use for old toothbrushes ;0) As I wanted to really work the glue into the sanded area on the first coat the toothbrush worked way better than a brush which I find tends to drag the glue across the surface vice driving it in. After a good second coat on everything I used strips of paper between the layers till I got everything lined up perfect (the backing panel is cut to very tight tolerances so as to support the top panel right to the lacing) and then slipped one strip of paper out at a time pressing the panels together as I went.

Fairly happy with the result and being as the panel is going to be screwed to the bike dash there's no chance of it ever coming off the bike. All other pieces are joined with either snaps or heavy velcro as suggested. Still have to mold a weather flap but buddy wants it now so we'll deal with that bit in the fall. It'll be a molded piece of veg tan, stitched at the top and with a magnet sewn in at the bottom to hold to the bottom snap on the ipod panel.

Sure would've been a lot easier if the guy had let me use the whole dash - he wanted to keep his funky pewter eagle medallion at the bottom of the panel.

Note: I really like the double thickness of the main panel with the backing piece trimmed to fit inside the lacing - once its hammered down a bit to set the cement and flatten the lacing, it gives a real nice almost upholstery look (as if it's cushioned like a car dash)

Pics are here - thanks for looking http://mcbearcat.shawwebspace.ca/pages/view/leather_bits/

Edited July 15, 2009 by McJeep