Tips on Applying Contact Cement

[TZHunter]

What are the different ways you apply contact cement?

Surely I'm not the first person to ask myself "when is someone gonna come up with a convenient way to apply contact cement?

i just got back from 20 yrs overseas and there was a local maker Henkel who made it in expensively in 2 different sizes of tubes and also in cans from 1/2 quart to a gallon.  On larger surfaces I use a putty knife/spatula, but what do y'all use on small areas, say just on the edge where you want the sew line to hold prior to sewing? Thanks in advance to this great group of leatherworkers!

[Reegesc]

A small, stiff brush

 

[billybopp]

I use cheap, disposable solder flux brushes for most of my gluing.  In addition, if the glue goes on a little lumpy, one of those "sample" credit cards that come with card offers in the mail make excellent disposable spreaders.

Bill

[TinkerTailor]

I use mini artists palette knives/spatulas. I found flexible plastic ones at a dollar store that work great. The best part is i have never found glue that bonds to the plastic, so to clean up i just let them dry and peel the glue off. Takes only a second. They are cheap so you can reshape them with scissors/knife for custom shapes. These are the same.

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/193079379/five-palette-knives-artists-palette?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=plastic spatula&ref=sr_gallery_1

Look in the dollar store, I found them for 2 bux for a pack of 10. They have lasted me a year, and look new,.

[Huginn]

https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-stainless-steel-edge-paddle

 

[TinkerTailor]

2 minutes ago, Huginn said:

https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-stainless-steel-edge-paddle

 

Butter knife.

[TZHunter]

Some great ideas! Thanks. Your ideas have reminded me how many times I've looked down on my floor of scrap veg tan and quickly cut a piece of stiff veg tan to the size I need to spread some glue on an edge.  I've also used Popsicle sticks. I'm gonna try the old credit cards and the plastic artists tools, the glue not sticking is nice, makes them reusable. Heck I might even find a stiffer plastic bottle/container and cut it into strips to use. Thanks, any other ideas, post away, you'll help yes all!

[Dwight]

http://www.harborfreight.com/36-pc-12-in-horsehair-bristle-acid-shop-brushes-61880.html

I buy these little bristle brushes at Harbor Freight, . . . on line you can get 20% or more discount coupons, . . . makes em even cheaper.

I will use one "today" and though it dries out over night, . . . going back into the cement tomorrow, . . . I can loosen it up to use it tomorrow, . . . maybe even the next day if I use it two or three times each day.

Ultimately it will go for a couple or three days, . . . then it is so hard I pitch it, . . . but at the price, . . . it's a "who cares" item.

I make mostly belts and holsters, . . . so these are perfect for me.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Widget]

When doing just edges (like prior to stitching, etc.) I've become completely addicted to using the basting tape type stuff that Tandy and Springfield sell.  I've not had any problems with it holding through stitching, etc.  The only drawback I've found is that it does gum up the stitching chisel or awl and needles a little bit as they pass through, but it's easy enough to get off with some soap and water.  

[CaptQuirk]

@Widget- My Mom's family was from Wilmington, I remember going through Nwark as a kid!

Back on topic, I just use the brush that comes in the can of contact cement. The only tip I have, is to wipe the excess globs off the brush, and brush from the center out past the edges. This helps keep the brush from hitting the edge with glue, less clean up before burnishing the edge.