Need Some Help

[tardis86]

the last 2 projects i have done havent turned out so well.

for starters, when i tried using my chisel to punch the holes, the glue didn't hold and made it all crooked as seen top left.

i then tried using a dremel to drill the holes with not much more luck.

i use rubber cement to glue stuff together, should i get something better?

should i maybe punch the holes in the front piece first to make it easier to go through the back piece?

is the leather too thick?

i feel like im missing something here, i put alot of time in this stuff and it looks like crap.

any helpful ideas are appreciated.

[JLSleather]

Rubber cement is not intended to be permanent. It's fine for holding parts together long enough to sew or lace,but really not to take the shock of a chisel pulled out of it.

I use it on small projects - and I do sometimes use a thonging chisel for lacing slits. But it's in thin leather, allowed to dry somewhat before sticking, and the parts are held down while the chisel is pulled.

[tardis86]

Rubber cement is not intended to be permanent. It's fine for holding parts together long enough to sew or lace,but really not to take the shock of a chisel pulled out of it.

I use it on small projects - and I do sometimes use a thonging chisel for lacing slits. But it's in thin leather, allowed to dry somewhat before sticking, and the parts are held down while the chisel is pulled.

what do you use instead of a thonging chisel in thick leather? and what glue do you recommend?

Edited February 7, 2016 by tardis86

[thunter9]

renia aquilim 315

masters fast drying

masters bought out barge years ago

renia makes some other glue that we used . we used a solvent called #2 for a thinner.

[Dwight]

Weldwood contact cement, . . . and a leather working awl to do the holes.

The first one will hold it, . . . the second will poke it.

May God bless,

Dwight

[tardis86]

Weldwood contact cement, . . . and a leather working awl to do the holes.

The first one will hold it, . . . the second will poke it.

May God bless,

Dwight

i REALLY don't want to use an awl for poking holes. is there another way?

[tardis86]

i REALLY don't want to use an awl for poking holes. is there another way?

seems like the 2 needle and an awl in the hand at the same time is a bit too much for me

[thefanninator]

Regular PVA white glue for leather will work fine. Try Fiebing's. You might need to rough up any finished surface first.

If you're using a stitching chisel you can punch all the way through but a stitching groove might help too.

If you don't want your work to look like crap don't use a dremel tool to drill holes for stitching. The holes are too big and are neither angled nor diamond shaped. Most pros who do great work use two needles and an awl.

[Tugadude]

First, the leather is pretty thick. You are also asking it to make a pretty severe bend. Did you try casing it and using a bone folder to help form the curve? You mention a thonging chisel. Those are for lacing, not stitching. You obviously can use them to create stitching holes, but it is not proper. Get a stitching iron. Lots of them discussed on the forum and Nigel Armitage has extensive reviews on his website and on Youtube.

Weldwood contact cement is what I use a lot, red can. You can buy it at Lowes if convenient. Put on both sides, let dry and then put together. Should hold well.

If you use a drill, still mark your holes with a straight line and tool such as a stitching wheel.

Finally, awl work is a skill you should develop. With practice, it becomes automatic, you don't even think about exchanging the needle and awl. I thought it was ridiculous at first, but stuck with it and now it is easy, almost robotic. If you pursue it, make sure you have a good, sharp awl. I prefer one with a short blade, 3/4" to 1" max, but YMMV.

Good luck.

[Tugadude]

BTW, this would have been a decent choice for your project...