Gluing leather to ABS plastic

[MrDeeR]

The title says it all. I want to cover my guitar case (ABS plastic) with molded leather. The surface is textured not smooth. The thing I am worried for is ABS plastic is not very resistant to certain chemicals and a strong solvent based glue might damage the case. Mind you I am a complete newbie to leather craft.

Any recommendation?

[fredk]

Any glue that will be strong enough to adhere the leather to the plastic surface is going to damage the plastic surface

Try strong double-sided adhesive tape, industrial grade, not the cheap stuff in a hobby shop or stationers 

[Handstitched]

Are there any non-solvent based adhesives that you could try ?  On that note, are you able to get a piece of ' ABS plastic' ( the same as your guitar case) , an off cut, a sample,  a  toy  or whatever, that you could use as a test piece ?  Just a thought  

HS

[chrisash]

you will probably need to rough up the surface for the glue to stick anyway, maybe with a scouring pad from the kitchen

[Northmount]

16 hours ago, chrisash said:

scouring pad

Use sand paper.

Tom

[MrDeeR]

On 11/9/2020 at 9:27 AM, fredk said:

Any glue that will be strong enough to adhere the leather to the plastic surface is going to damage the plastic surface

Try strong double-sided adhesive tape, industrial grade, not the cheap stuff in a hobby shop or stationers 

That's a good option I will keep in mind

[MrDeeR]

On 11/9/2020 at 10:49 AM, Handstitched said:

Are there any non-solvent based adhesives that you could try ?  On that note, are you able to get a piece of ' ABS plastic' ( the same as your guitar case) , an off cut, a sample,  a  toy  or whatever, that you could use as a test piece ?  Just a thought  

HS

I am open for any glue. At the moment, I am still waiting for my leather to be delivered. Hopefully tomorrow. In the meantime I wanted to gather info about the glue I need to use. Do you have any recommended brand or a specific glue I should try?

[MrDeeR]

On 11/9/2020 at 11:48 AM, chrisash said:

you will probably need to rough up the surface for the glue to stick anyway, maybe with a scouring pad from the kitchen

The surface of my guitar case is quite rough already. Do you think it still needs to be roughed? I am not sure, I am just asking.

I have some steel wool somewhere. I can go over it just in case.

Edited November 10, 2020 by MrDeeR

[Retswerb]

Did you give it a try, @MrDeeR? Let us know how it went.

[MrDeeR]

On 11/17/2020 at 9:16 AM, Retswerb said:

Did you give it a try, @MrDeeR? Let us know how it went.

Sorry for the late answer. I put this project on hold for a while. But I settled with E6000 glue. It's recommended for ABS plastic and leather as well. Also, thing to consider that it needs time to cure so I can play with the leather and reposition it if I need to. Something that I can't do with contact glue.

I have already prepared the guitar case and probably I will do the leather molding after new year. There is so much I have to do focus on. I don't have time to do it earlier.

Edited December 5, 2020 by MrDeeR