Gluing Fabric To Leather

[Anacott Steel]

Hey all. Just after some advice on gluing fabric to leather - say as a lining in a book cover.

1. what glue are people using - and how are you applying it ? brush, spray can....

2. how do you stop the edges from fraying ? I have had some success with clear nail polish, but suspect there is a better way.

any help, always appreciated

Don

Edited October 17, 2013 by Anacott Steel

[NVLeatherWorx]

If you are gluing regular fabric to the leather then you might want to try a water based contact cement such as what Tandy offers and apply it very thin then let it set until it is just tacky and then apply your fabric making sure that you keep it smooth. If the fabric is a bit more sturdy or has a backing then use a permanent contact cement. Just like the water based though you want to apply it very thin and let it set until it is just tacky before you apply your lining.

I use both so I know they work well. Best idea is to use some scraps and give it a test run to see how it works for you.

[electrathon]

Spray glue.

[Anacott Steel]

Many thanks guys. Any advice on keeping the edged from fraying ?

[Dwight]

I've seen in older books where they used very thin fabric, . . . and tucked it under for about a 1/4 inch all the way around.

Of course they angle cut the corners, . . . and I would suppose that they took it all to an ironing board first, . . . then glued the edges together, . . . then glued the whole thing into the book.

At least that is how I would try it. I don't have any book experience, . . . but I have done a few pouches, . . . and that is my proceedure, . . . which of course I copied from what I saw in the books.

I use weldwood contact cement for mine.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Studio-N]

Spray glue.

Agreed. try 3M super 77 available at most hardware stores. Spray lightly.

Cut the fabric oversize, then lay the leather on it. Smooth all the bubbles, cut to fit.

Use an edge coating of some sort to finish the edge and seal the fabric.

Have fun.

[Anacott Steel]

Many thanks for your help guys. Dwight - excellent idea about folding it over. Will give that a go.

cheers

[WScott]

Timely thread, used super77 to glue down the fabric cover on the insole of my son's dress shoes....it was pulling up after just a few uses.

Nice to be able to fix stuff and get it back to useful.

[blue duck]

I suppose this project is already finished, but will give you my $.02 worth for next go around. Gluing is the best option, however it can leak through and leave a little or a large splotch of glue. The best option I have found is to get some fusible interfacing from the fabric store. Cut the size you want it to be and fuse it to your material. Then you have a nice straight edge to fold over to keep from fraying and then when you glue it will not bleed through as the interfacing should stop it. Depends on project, as to the facing, but the heavier you can use, the less you will worry about anything coming through. Good luck.