Something I haven't seen before -- how to clean it up?

[llucas]

I just stitched my first belt for a client using my recently repaired Adler 205-374. English bridle on the face, natural veg tan on the back. I also just switched to Barge cement. When I used Weldwood I always used two coats, so I did the same thing with Barge. It took longer to dry and was obviously thicker. But, it worked great when the belt straps were bonded together. However, when I started stitching the belt on the sewing machine, I noticed tiny little yellowish/white-ish debris forming around many of the stitches as the needle lifted. I checked the thread path (it is new thread) to see if there was excess thread lube (nope) and for a few minutes assumed that waxy lube was buffing off in tiny balls and that I could brush away when I was finished stitching the belt. Nope. It was little tiny bits of Barge coming up with the needle and stitches. None on the bottom; only on the top. Learned a valuable lesson: only one coat of Barge on each piece to be joined, not two. Most of it brushed off, but some is left. Anyone dealt with this before? I am assuming I can pick up a gum rubber eraser and use an edge on the stitch line to remove the remaining cement, but not sure. How have you handled cleaning up this kind of thing?

This is not a good photo, but you can see the Barge on the stitches: little white bits.

Edited April 22, 2016 by llucas

[llucas]

Have any of you used this kind of thing to deal with this kind of problem?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Rubber-Eraser-Adhesive-Caoutchouc-Leathercraft/dp/B00MSW02GK/ref=sr_1_14?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1461293637&sr=1-14&keywords=rubber+cement+eraser

Edited April 22, 2016 by llucas

[Wizcrafts]

If you buy them, let us know how these erasers work out.

[llucas]

This is supposed to go to the client tomorrow evening, so I will be at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or some art supply in the morning to pick up a crepe rubber cement eraser to try out. I'll let you know if it works. Hopefully, someone on the forum has some experience with this kind of thing and can offer advice.

 

[Thor]

While in town pick up one of these as well http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Clean-Eraser-Cleaner-Cleaning/dp/B004D42H5K I'm using them for a lot of tasks and they aren't as harsh as the rubber stuff. Just thinking of your thread...

[Colt W Knight]

I just use a rubber pencil eraser.

 

[OLDNSLOW]

I bought the one from Tandy and have used it the leather but not the thread, and it worked fine.  How long did you let it dry before you sewed the belt?  I often apply barges to both surfaces and then stick them together but I also let the item set for a couple of days if I can before sewing.

[llucas]

23 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

If you buy them, let us know how these erasers work out.

Unfortunately, none of the art supply places had the crepe rubber erasers. I bought several other options, but none of them worked well. Tandy and Campbell-Randel have them and I will order one as I have another of these belts to stitch.

 

20 hours ago, Thor said:

While in town pick up one of these as well http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Clean-Eraser-Cleaner-Cleaning/dp/B004D42H5K I'm using them for a lot of tasks and they aren't as harsh as the rubber stuff. Just thinking of your thread...

I appreciate this suggestion and my wife had one, so I tried it. It was too abrasive for this leather and did not remove any of the cement.

[llucas]

3 hours ago, Colt W Knight said:

I just use a rubber pencil eraser.

 

I tried this one also. No go. It seems Barge (and probably Weldwood or rubber cement) needs an eraser that is made of the same substance as the cement itself.

[llucas]

2 hours ago, OLDNSLOW said:

I bought the one from Tandy and have used it the leather but not the thread, and it worked fine.  How long did you let it dry before you sewed the belt?  I often apply barges to both surfaces and then stick them together but I also let the item set for a couple of days if I can before sewing.

I dried it for an hour before bonding, and used a hair dryer set on heat to speed it up a bit. The belt cured for 24 hours after bonding. I guess I used too much Barge to cure in that time. Learned a hard lesson. I did check the Tandy website as you noted and they do indeed have the crepe rubber eraser. I will pick one up as I have another belt to stitch that was glued up the same way at the same time. Thanks for the heads-up.