Members Tallbald Posted August 13, 2015 Members Report Posted August 13, 2015 Several on the forum mention thinning contact cement for easier spreading. It takes almost four ounces of un thinned Weldwood to double coat one of my belt blanks (once isn't enough as first does soak in) 60 inches long by 1 1/2 inch wide. Thinner consistency would be faster and I believe more economical. But I've can't find on the quart can label what to thin it with. Just "cleanup" with mineral spirits, which isn't what the glue smells like to me. Maybe it is indeed thinned with mineral spirits. Thought it couldn't hurt to ask here. Appreciate information. Don. Quote
mlapaglia Posted August 13, 2015 Report Posted August 13, 2015 Product Description:DAP® WELDWOOD® Contact Cement Cleaner and Thinner is a clear solvent for cleaning dried or freshadhesives from tools and brushes. Cleans up oil, grease spots and floor wax. Can also be used to delaminatecontact cement assemblies and other bonds.Suggested Uses:• Can be used as a cleaner or thinner.• Can also be used to delaminate bonded panels. AS A THINNER: Replace lost solvent with an equal volume of Cleaner & Thinner. Stir or mix untilevenly dispersed. Over dilution can cause loss of bond strength. Recommended only when the adhesivehas thickened beyond the point of easy application. CAUTION: Do not use to thin waterborne contactcement. Quote The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. Bruce Lee
Members Tallbald Posted August 14, 2015 Author Members Report Posted August 14, 2015 Hmm. I don't see it next to the cement at either store I buy Weldwood at. Must have to order it site-to-store. I wish I knew what the stuff is. Thank you. Don. Quote
mlapaglia Posted August 14, 2015 Report Posted August 14, 2015 According to the MSDS its 99.9% methanol and 0.1% 2,5-dibromotoluene You can also thin it with Xylene FYI Xylene is nasty carp. Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child Causes damage to organs (lung) (inhalation, oral) Causes damage to organs (nervous system) through prolonged or repeated exposure (inhalation) May cause damage to organs (kidneys, hearing organ (loss of hearing)) through prolonged or repeated exposure Quote The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. Bruce Lee
Members Dwight Posted August 14, 2015 Members Report Posted August 14, 2015 (edited) Tallbald, . . . Bubba, . . . you are doing something wrong. No, . . . I don't know what the heck it is, . . . but I just made 4 belts the other night, . . . did not have to double coat any of them, . . . they will in all liklyhood NEVER, EVER, EVER, come apart, . . . and I maybe used 2 ounces, . . . maybe. When you coat it, . . . use a bristle brush, . . . think metal handled acid brushes used by plumbers, . . . and just cover it, . . . believe me it does not "soak in". It forms a grabbing surface that will grab another like surface, . . . and if you roll it with a rolling pin or press it with the palms of your hands, . . . you will rip the leather off one side or another taking it apart. You can tell by the color, . . . if you are putting it on right. If the leather you are coating turns brown, . . . you have used WAY, WAY, too much. It'll be brown when it is wet, . . . but 20 minutes to 40 minutes later, . . . it should be very close to the natural color of the leather. That is when it is dry enough for you to put the palm of your hand on it and it not stick to you. THAT is when you stick it together. Edited: Acetone is the product you use to thin this with. It too is nasty stuff, . . . so read the label. A very little bit is needed to thin out the bottom of the can when it gets down there. I usually thin mine just before using it, . . . and you have to stir it real good. At first it will not look like it is thinning, . . . but you keep stirring, . . . it'll be OK. And, . . . I checked, . . . maybe 1 1/2 ounces used for a 47 inch belt, a 40 inch belt, and two 38 inch belts. Thats something under 3 square feet, . . . covered with 1 1/2 ounces of weldwood contact cement. May God bless, Dwight Edited August 14, 2015 by Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members Tallbald Posted August 14, 2015 Author Members Report Posted August 14, 2015 (edited) Dwight thanks. I took your advice last week and bought acid brushes at Harbor Freight. Gotta love the 20% off coupons with a free tape measure to boot. Yeah, my leather turns brown so it looks like I AM overdoing it. I've been palm pressing it and tomorrow plan to lathe turn a hardwood roller to ease things. I'll try using less, but I definitely don't want the edges of my straps to separate over time. I'm able to sew to within 3/16 or 1/4 of an inch while using a roller guide. Honestly I was of the belief that the contact cement would reinforce the laminates bond out past the stitches. Your experience in this matter? Don. A comment here. I had never used contact cement before beginning leather crafting. Instructions were that "two coats may be needed on porous surfaces". I accepted that and ran with it, evidently mistakenly thinking I needed to use two. Don. Edited August 14, 2015 by Tallbald Quote
Contributing Member Bob Blea Posted August 14, 2015 Contributing Member Report Posted August 14, 2015 Hi Tallbald, I use Weldwood too and I may be in group that doesn't use it quite right, but I sometimes use two coats when I install pigskin liners in my notebooks. I put it on thinly (I don't thin the Weldwood at all, just thin application) and I do see my leather darken a bit at first. That quickly goes away and yes the leather can soak up the solvent. I find that occasionally I don't get a good bond in places and I need to do a second coat, but as I said I'm probably doing it wrong. And I might be putting it on too thin. Bob Quote There are always possibilities.... Bob Blea C and B Leathercrafts Fort Collins, CO Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandBLeather?ref=si_shop Instagram @bobbleacandbleather
Members Tallbald Posted August 14, 2015 Author Members Report Posted August 14, 2015 (edited) Bob I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I'll give the one-coat a try and see how things turn out. I worry about laminate separation at an edge on a strap or belt, but know my stitching should hold things together fine. I don't see a lot of stress forming on the edges of my projects really. And for time and cost reasons I do hope a single layer of cement will suffice. Oh. Your Etsy site is beautiful and nicely done. Beautiful creations! Don. Edited August 14, 2015 by Tallbald Quote
mlapaglia Posted August 14, 2015 Report Posted August 14, 2015 The back side of leather provides such a rough surface of the contact cement that 2 coats are not normally needed. If you glue top to top (I am not sure why you would) then you need to rough the grain up first. As long as I get the cement out to the edge I have never had a problem with it separating at the edge. FYI, just make sure you have a coat of cement on both sides to be glued together. Quote The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. Bruce Lee
Members Tallbald Posted August 25, 2015 Author Members Report Posted August 25, 2015 Thank you all. I do have acetone here and may give it a try experimentally. I'm a devotee of Weldwood, but I need to better learn to use it as another one of my "tools". Don Quote
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