When to use and when not to use adhesive?

[kyrrk]

I've been in leather industry for more than a year, I still have a lot to learn.

I was just wondering, most of the tutorial I have watched, put contact cement before they attach piece 1 to piece 2. Then some video, only put needles on some holes before stitching, I tried to ask the craftsman but just told me that it didn't need to be glued. But why not?

 

Thank you for taking time. 

[garypl]

I normally use contact cement to hold two pieces of leather in place before I sew them together - keeps pieces from moving around while sewing and also provides some extra strength.

If I am hand stitching a pouch I often do not cement the pieces - this allows me to make small adjustments while I am stitching.  This shell holder is saddle stitched without any adhesive.

Gary

Edited May 20, 2018 by garypl

[kyrrk]

6 minutes ago, garypl said:

I normally use contact cement to hold two pieces of leather in place before I sew them together - keeps pieces from moving around while sewing and also provides some extra strength.

If I am hand stitching a pouch I often do not cement the pieces - this allows me to make small adjustments while I am stitching.  This shell holder is saddle stitched without any adhesive.

Gary

Ok I get the point. Does that mean, it is up to the maker whether to put adhesive? 

[Mattsbagger]

3 minutes ago, kyrrk said:

Ok I get the point. Does that mean, it is up to the maker whether to put adhesive? 

Yes. I prefer glue as easier to stitch and get better edges.

[garypl]

8 minutes ago, Mattsbagger said:

Yes. I prefer glue as easier to stitch and get better edges.

I agree with Mattsbagger - if you want seamless edges it is better to glue.

 

[Aven]

13 minutes ago, kyrrk said:

Ok I get the point. Does that mean, it is up to the maker whether to put adhesive? 

It's all up to you.  They are your creations in your style. 

If you can sew it without it moving, then you don't need glue to hold it in place while you sew.  But gluing it may help your edges look neater when you finish them.

 

[chrisash]

Hi

When to use Impact Glue like Evo Stick and when to use cement

Cement seems to be quite strong and quick drying

[kyrrk]

Yes I also prefer glue. So I noticed on the video I watched, because it has holes punched already thats why he did not glue it. So it can be adjusted. 

Thank you all for taking time to respond

[BDAZ]

I gave up using almost all glue a couple of years ago. I do production work of 10 to 20 pieces at a time. I make an instrument case that is approx 3" x 20" and I would often get glue on the edges or smeared on the grain side. If I had to line the cases with suede, I used a spray adhesive outside and that was also a mess, and then when windy everything stuck together. First for holding top to bottom for stitching I use double sided tape from Tandy, although there are other, better available on Amazon. You apply to the edge of one piece and then you can remove the release paper as you position the second on top. Some of my cases go a yard long so this is a useful feature. If I am lining with fabric, I use acetone to clean the edges of the fabric to promote adhesion of the tape.

Another trick is I use HeatnBond to laminate linings to heavier leather. It's available at Walmart, Michaels and all fabric stores.

I use a t-shirt press (an Iron works well for smaller items)  and have cut my "gluing" time on a case from 1/2 hour to less than a minute. I have not had a single problem with hundreds of items delivered. It hold as well or better than most cements and glues. I still use a drop of glue here and there for touch ups.

Bob

[KingsCountyLeather]

I used the rolls of double sided tape from Tandy and while it is really handy and no mess I found my needles getting caught in the glue while I was hand sewing, I’ve decided not to use it any more because of that. I don’t have as much trouble with contact adhesive and it sticks better.

[BDAZ]

I only use it for machine stitching where it works like magic. There are other types which may work better with hand stitching. One I also use is a red (release paper) tape and is more rubbery.

It is also very strong but more expensive than the Tandy tape.

[Tugadude]

3 hours ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

I used the rolls of double sided tape from Tandy and while it is really handy and no mess I found my needles getting caught in the glue while I was hand sewing, I’ve decided not to use it any more because of that. I don’t have as much trouble with contact adhesive and it sticks better.

I've  had the same issue with the tape but still use it on some items.  Glue is best if you can wait for it to dry.  Contact cement is awesome but you have to clean it off of the edges if it oozes out.  Not difficult, just an extra step I guess.  There are many projects I do where I use no adhesive.  Just depends.

[battlemunky]

I think it has to depend on what you are making as well. Straight lines and such, gluing seems like its easier for me but like others have mentioned, when you are needing to finesse a curved stitch line or something similar where it is nice to have some on the fly adjustments made, then not having glue is preferable.

Reading all the responses, it seems like we're not really definitively answering your question because there are too many potential things that can keep gluing all the time, or not, from being a cut and dried solution. You gotta figure out when you need to and when not to.

You said you are in the leather industry so I'm guessing you are beyond hobbyist and should likely look at bottom line as a driver in which case you need to decide where using it vs not using it makes production faster and easier or adds some robustness to the piece that stitching alone doesn't. Gluing isn't just a sewing aid, that crap (rubber cement, tanner's bond, e.g.) is strong as hell. I've torn leather trying to separate it on occasion.

[fredk]

17 minutes ago, battlemunky said:

... You said you are in the leather industry ...

Reading the intro I would suggest that the OP 's usual language is not English and the use of 'industry' is just a translation of 'work'

As for using glue. On items to be sewn together I regularly use UHU contact adhesive on the seams. I even glue some small cheap-to-sell items together and not bother sewing them. I've tried the double-sided tape, but as KingsCounty has also found, sewing with glovers needles the needle and thread catches on the tape gum. With pre-made sewing holes there is less of a problem. I find glueing the to-be -sewn seam first keeps it aligned, one less thing for me to be concerned about

I'm confused by the two terms, adhesive and cement - to me cement is made from calcinated limestone and sand to stick clay brick together in making buildings. All the sticky liquids I use in leather work are adhesive; some work on contact others are slower acting, eg PVA

[kyrrk]

5 hours ago, BDAZ said:

I gave up using almost all glue a couple of years ago. I do production work of 10 to 20 pieces at a time. I make an instrument case that is approx 3" x 20" and I would often get glue on the edges or smeared on the grain side. If I had to line the cases with suede, I used a spray adhesive outside and that was also a mess, and then when windy everything stuck together. First for holding top to bottom for stitching I use double sided tape from Tandy, although there are other, better available on Amazon. You apply to the edge of one piece and then you can remove the release paper as you position the second on top. Some of my cases go a yard long so this is a useful feature. If I am lining with fabric, I use acetone to clean the edges of the fabric to promote adhesion of the tape.

Another trick is I use HeatnBond to laminate linings to heavier leather. It's available at Walmart, Michaels and all fabric stores.

I use a t-shirt press (an Iron works well for smaller items)  and have cut my "gluing" time on a case from 1/2 hour to less than a minute. I have not had a single problem with hundreds of items delivered. It hold as well or better than most cements and glues. I still use a drop of glue here and there for touch ups.

Bob

 

4 hours ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

I used the rolls of double sided tape from Tandy and while it is really handy and no mess I found my needles getting caught in the glue while I was hand sewing, I’ve decided not to use it any more because of that. I don’t have as much trouble with contact adhesive and it sticks better.

I have also tried to use double sided as well. For the zippers which is pain in the ass when gluing, I can only order those online and overseas which is kind of expensive that's why I used all purpose contact adhesive, I think it is slightly strong than the usual leather contact cement.

[kyrrk]

51 minutes ago, battlemunky said:

I think it has to depend on what you are making as well. Straight lines and such, gluing seems like its easier for me but like others have mentioned, when you are needing to finesse a curved stitch line or something similar where it is nice to have some on the fly adjustments made, then not having glue is preferable.

Reading all the responses, it seems like we're not really definitively answering your question because there are too many potential things that can keep gluing all the time, or not, from being a cut and dried solution. You gotta figure out when you need to and when not to.

You said you are in the leather industry so I'm guessing you are beyond hobbyist and should likely look at bottom line as a driver in which case you need to decide where using it vs not using it makes production faster and easier or adds some robustness to the piece that stitching alone doesn't. Gluing isn't just a sewing aid, that crap (rubber cement, tanner's bond, e.g.) is strong as hell. I've torn leather trying to separate it on occasion.

But I thank all of the responses for it gave me insights of what other people are using in making their crafts. Maybe I can apply and see what works well for me.

[kyrrk]

23 minutes ago, fredk said:

Reading the intro I would suggest that the OP 's usual language is not English and the use of 'industry' is just a translation of 'work'

As for using glue. On items to be sewn together I regularly use UHU contact adhesive on the seams. I even glue some small cheap-to-sell items together and not bother sewing them. I've tried the double-sided tape, but as KingsCounty has also found, sewing with glovers needles the needle and thread catches on the tape gum. With pre-made sewing holes there is less of a problem. I find glueing the to-be -sewn seam first keeps it aligned, one less thing for me to be concerned about

I'm confused by the two terms, adhesive and cement - to me cement is made from calcinated limestone and sand to stick clay brick together in making buildings. All the sticky liquids I use in leather work are adhesive; some work on contact others are slower acting, eg PVA

Thank you for pointing that I am referring it as hobby and work. I am not really good at english.

That's what I've exoerience using double sided tape, the needle catches some of the gum, but I still sometimes use it.

For the adhesive and cement, I am sorry if it confuses you but the bottle says "all purpose contact cement" but it works ok with leather. Although leather adhesive would be better but resources is limited from where I am. 

[BDAZ]

9 minutes ago, kyrrk said:

But I thank all of the responses for it gave me insights of what other people are using in making their crafts. Maybe I can apply and see what works well for me.

 

1 hour ago, battlemunky said:

I think it has to depend on what you are making as well. Straight lines and such, gluing seems like its easier for me but like others have mentioned, when you are needing to finesse a curved stitch line or something similar where it is nice to have some on the fly adjustments made, then not having glue is preferable.

Reading all the responses, it seems like we're not really definitively answering your question because there are too many potential things that can keep gluing all the time, or not, from being a cut and dried solution. You gotta figure out when you need to and when not to.

You said you are in the leather industry so I'm guessing you are beyond hobbyist and should likely look at bottom line as a driver in which case you need to decide where using it vs not using it makes production faster and easier or adds some robustness to the piece that stitching alone doesn't. Gluing isn't just a sewing aid, that crap (rubber cement, tanner's bond, e.g.) is strong as hell. I've torn leather trying to separate it on occasion.

I only use it for straight lines and where I have curved areas I glue a bead between the taped seams.

[bikermutt07]

The last thing I did was awhile ago. But I tried 3m M90 spray adhesive. It worked really well. Also, the dissipation of the fumes was much faster than with contact cement.

[fredk]

1 hour ago, kyrrk said:

... but the bottle says "all purpose contact cement" but it works ok with leather. Although leather adhesive would be better but resources is limited from where I am. 

All the adhesives I use are general purpose ones

Very often when something, an adhesive or tool gets 'for leather work' or another such label the price goes up. Right up.

Eg. I wanted a pick-up pencil for picking up rhinestones. I also build plastic models. The pick-up pencil for 'plastic modelling' was £4.99 for one. I found some in ladies nail art - at £0.99 for 5. I could give you loads of other examples. If the 'general purpose adhesive works then use it