Any Good Glue That Won't Stink You Out?

[ShortBBL]

I'm curious if there is any GOOD glue/cement that will work well for holster making, yet be safe to work around in "not-so-perfect" ventalation areas? I use Barge cement which of course works great, but... it is REALLY a stinky (non-safe_ stuff for long term smelling. My shop is in my basement too and I think this stuff could be not so safe on the same level as the furnace is on!

Any alternatives that are safe and work good!?

Thanks for your ideas!

[Rayban]

I use Weldwood contact cement and not too long ago my brother stopped by while I was gluing up two layers to make a belt and he asked if I was "getting high on that stuff"....and I couldn't even smell it anymore.....so I guess I'm not the one to ask....

Edited November 26, 2011 by Rayban

[Denster]

You can use Tandy's Leatherweld or Elmers white wood glue which is about the same thing. It works OK but not the same grab that Barge's or Master's contact cements have. It does take longer to dry. Or you can just put a fan behind you while you are glueing.

[Haystacker]

Leatherweld works great. it is not the same as the contact cement. Follow the instructions for use. For instance both pieces have to have glue and you attach while the glue is still wet. For best results, I use a weight on the holster and let the glue set up. The warmer your shop, the faster the glue sets up.

I have tried to separate the leather after the glue sets up. The leather actually gives, not the glue.

[steelhawk]

I saw a holster tutorial on ar15.com. The guy used some non-flammable Weldwood. It is in a green can and kind of blue.

Has anyone used this?

[wizard of tragacanth]

I used that blue-green DAP product many years ago, putting Formica on some speaker boxes. IIRC it worked fine but I would recommend experimenting on scrap before using it on a project.

Nick

[Lobo]

Fiebing's Tanners Bond is an old standby for saddlemakers and others. Excellent adhesion, dries clear, no objectionable odor or fumes, remains flexible when cured. Tandy's markets Tanners Bond as their "Leathercrafter Cement" with a quart bottle at less than $20.00, and gallons are around $32.00 or so.

Tanners Bond is water-soluable when in liquid form (making clean-up easy) but water-resistant when it has set and cured. Setting up takes about 15 minutes or so, allowing good working time when assembling pieces, and it will be fully cured in under an hour (assuming room temperature and low humidity, your results may vary).

I find it to be especially useful when assembling two-layer belts and also for cementing in holster linings. For these chores I use a 1" paint brush, which I keep in a jar of water between uses. A quart of Tanners Bond will easily do up a couple of hundred belts and holsters. Keeping the paint brush in water allows it to be reused indefinitely.

[McJeep]

Nice heads up - thanks Lobo

[ShortBBL]

Fiebing's Tanners Bond is an old standby for saddlemakers and others. Excellent adhesion, dries clear, no objectionable odor or fumes, remains flexible when cured. Tandy's markets Tanners Bond as their "Leathercrafter Cement" with a quart bottle at less than $20.00, and gallons are around $32.00 or so.

Tanners Bond is water-soluable when in liquid form (making clean-up easy) but water-resistant when it has set and cured. Setting up takes about 15 minutes or so, allowing good working time when assembling pieces, and it will be fully cured in under an hour (assuming room temperature and low humidity, your results may vary).

I find it to be especially useful when assembling two-layer belts and also for cementing in holster linings. For these chores I use a 1" paint brush, which I keep in a jar of water between uses. A quart of Tanners Bond will easily do up a couple of hundred belts and holsters. Keeping the paint brush in water allows it to be reused indefinitely.

Awesome! Thanks for this info, I'll give this stuff a try!