Heat Activated Contact Cement?

[DavidL]

Im looking at the different types of glues other than contact cement and wondering what glue do european leatherworkers working in Louis vuitton, and the luxury brands use (water based contact cement?) - .

The other thing I see is heat activated contact cement in the shoe industry. The shoe is coated with some sort of heat activated cement and heat flashed in a special machine.

Any one has any clue if heat activated cement is stronger or just for convenience?

[bruce johnson]

Some contact cements are heat activated, Barge is the one most think of but others are too. They can dry and then you apply heat to tack the cement back up. I use a paint stripping gun.

A few places that this is helpful. Cement won't stick very well to wet leather. You can apply cement to dry leather and let it set. Dip or soak the piece and when it is right, hit it with some heat and stick it. Good for ground seat build-ups in saddles. It also helps if you are batching up stuff. You can apply the cement to everything at a whack, then come back and heat-n-stick.

[DavidL]

didn't know that about contact cement. How about water based or no toluene/low odour contact cements, I hear they aren't as good. Just need something that I can use thats safe, doesnt have a strong odour and bonds well. I used to use acetone from time to time without a mask and the smell is hard to work with more than a few minutes, the last contact cement had a smell to it too.

[Chief31794]

Actually, leathercraft cement (the white stuff), is very strong and is a contact type cement. It actually works either way but the best way is to coat both pieces, let them dry till tacky and then put them together, it will not come back apart, has no odor, is water based and if you need longer "working time" to align pieces you can put them together while they're wet and align them, still very strong when dry. I normally like to put an old carving slab on the piece either way and let dry for about 30 mintues, not necessary when doing it contact style, but still doesn't hurt and I use the time to do other things on the project. I use Feibings Contact Cement from Springfield Leather.

Chief