Glue and fabric combination (for wallet card slots)

[Spyros]

Hey guys are you aware of any combinations of glue and fabric that you know held well over time?

It's for this type of wallet below, the card pockets are simple fabric loops that are glued on the leather from the back, with no stitching.  Just glue holding the fabric together with the leather.

  

I've run some tests with every fabric and glue combinations I had available.  I don't think anything epoxy or CA based will do because they have no flexibility once dry, some people tend to sit on their wallets in their back pockets and eventually the glue will crack.  So far I got the best results with the type of contact adhesives they use for shoes, these are flexible and make a very strong bond with leather.  However I couldn't get it to hold well with any type of fabric that has a high polyester content, which is really what you want, because a cotton fabric will fray over time as the cards go in and out of the slots.

Are you aware of any leather and fabric combo that has worked well long term for this application?  Wallets have a hard life, I'm confident the leather and thread will last for many years but if the card pockets come apart then it's no use. 

[Handstitched]

G'Day,

I can't say I've used the combo you're using on a wallet, , but the CA I have  used  in the past is Selleys Kwik Grip. I find that quite flexible. Or Parfix   Fast Grip CA, thats what I'm currently using atm  on  repairing a brief case. ( its also 5 bucks  cheaper ) , that seems to be flexible.   . The gel versions are  good if you don't want the ' stringy bits'  going everywhere every time you dip your brush in the tin. 

This may not be important,  when I've used fabric for a lining on a hand bag, and CA is required, I have used a ( Boyles)  spray sealer on the reverse side to stop the adhesive working its way through the fabric. 

HS

[Spyros]

32 minutes ago, Handstitched said:

G'Day,

I can't say I've used the combo you're using on a wallet, , but the CA I have  used  in the past is Selleys Kwik Grip. I find that quite flexible. Or Parfix   Fast Grip CA, thats what I'm currently using atm  on  repairing a brief case. ( its also 5 bucks  cheaper ) , that seems to be flexible.   . The gel versions are  good if you don't want the ' stringy bits'  going everywhere every time you dip your brush in the tin. 

This may not be important,  when I've used fabric for a lining on a hand bag, and CA is required, I have used a ( Boyles)  spray sealer on the reverse side to stop the adhesive working its way through the fabric. 

HS

Thanks, do you remember the composition of the fabric?

[Handstitched]

Now you're asking...

...um..  The fabric I used wasn't a velvet, but 'velvet like  ' from ' Spotlight'  . The proper stuff is too ex$y . This was  used for hand bags, not wallets .  I sprayed some sealer on the reverse, let dry. Its goes a bit stiff-ish once dried  , but still very flexible. Hope that helps, sorta   

HS 

[RockyAussie]

From my experience I would not try Kwik Grip as I found that it does not hang on all that well. I usually use a solvent based contact adhesive which is the type most shoe rrepaires use for sticking the soles down. As I buy it in 20 litre drums that probably does not help you much. The fabric I use is a Jacquard fabric from Tabru in Italy. It has a seal coat on one side that stops the glue from penetrating through. Prior to using that I used to get some taffeta and spray a watered down mix of pva on it to seal it. Not so nice if you want both sides nice but could be wortha try if you like. Red pink tan orange brown and black I have in stock of the Jacquard from Tabru. If you want a metre I could do it for $20.00 per lineal metre plus post. Should have mentioned that the Jacquard also does not fray at the edges when you cut it. One of the reasons our wallets last toooo long.

Edited February 26, 2022 by RockyAussie

[fredk]

There are specialist fabric glues. 

An example;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bostik-806702-Simple-Fabric-Adhesive/dp/B01N91BB9O

I've not used this one but another and it sticks any usual fabric to leather and remains very flexible

[Spyros]

Well I'm not that worried if the glue seeps through, this is not a liner as such, just something to hold the cards in place.  I doubt anyone would open up the card slot to look inside and take exception that the liner is not pretty, then again you never know, people are weird sometimes.

In terms of fabric, have you ever noticed what those clothes labels are made out of?  Not the brand labels but the bigger white labels usually somewhere on the inside seam that have all the washing info etc on them?  this stuff is paper thin and very tough, I think that would be the best material to use, I just don't know where to get it... any idea what it's called?  

2 hours ago, fredk said:

There are specialist fabric glues. 

An example;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bostik-806702-Simple-Fabric-Adhesive/dp/B01N91BB9O

I've not used this one but another and it sticks any usual fabric to leather and remains very flexible

Would you trust this to hold for many years?

[Spyros]

2 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

From my experience I would not try Kwik Grip as I found that it does not hang on all that well. I usually use a solvent based contact adhesive which is the type most shoe rrepaires use for sticking the soles down. As I buy it in 20 litre drums that probably does not help you much. The fabric I use is a Jacquard fabric from Tabru in Italy. It has a seal coat on one side that stops the glue from penetrating through. Prior to using that I used to get some taffeta and spray a watered down mix of pva on it to seal it. Not so nice if you want both sides nice but could be wortha try if you like. Red pink tan orange brown and black I have in stock of the Jacquard from Tabru. If you want a metre I could do it for $20.00 per lineal metre plus post. Should have mentioned that the Jacquard also does not fray at the edges when you cut it. One of the reasons our wallets last toooo long.

Yes sir I'd love to give it a try

Next time you make your way to the post office can you please let me know?

[fredk]

31 minutes ago, Spyros said:

Would you trust this to hold for many years?

yes, a bag I made for no.1 dottir about 16 or 18 years ago, I glued the fabric part of the zipper to the back side of a piece of leather to make an inside pocket. Still holding true

[Spyros]

36 minutes ago, fredk said:

yes, a bag I made for no.1 dottir about 16 or 18 years ago, I glued the fabric part of the zipper to the back side of a piece of leather to make an inside pocket. Still holding true

Thanks Fred, that's great to know.

[Tugadude]

I would consider avoiding fabric altogether and try using Tyvek material.  This is the material you find used for tear-resistant envelopes.  It is a spunbonded polyolefin material which is going to outlast any fabric I can think of.  It doesn't fray nor does it stretch.  And although I haven't used it in this exact application, I have no doubt it will adhere to leather as well or better than any other material.  

Sourcing it may be the only challenge as the sources I'm aware of are large rolls used for weatherproofing buildings.  So perhaps you can find a distributor that sells largish envelopes and you can cut them up to create your loops.

 

[Spyros]

14 minutes ago, Tugadude said:

I would consider avoiding fabric altogether and try using Tyvek material.  This is the material you find used for tear-resistant envelopes.  It is a spunbonded polyolefin material which is going to outlast any fabric I can think of.  It doesn't fray nor does it stretch.  And although I haven't used it in this exact application, I have no doubt it will adhere to leather as well or better than any other material.  

Sourcing it may be the only challenge as the sources I'm aware of are large rolls used for weatherproofing buildings.  So perhaps you can find a distributor that sells largish envelopes and you can cut them up to create your loops.

 

This stuff?

https://www.amazon.com.au/Tyvek-Envelopes-Professional-Rip-Resistant-Construction/dp/B07D8F81CR

That might be the go, someone else also recommended Tyvek 

[Tugadude]

23 minutes ago, Spyros said:

This stuff?

https://www.amazon.com.au/Tyvek-Envelopes-Professional-Rip-Resistant-Construction/dp/B07D8F81CR

That might be the go, someone else also recommended Tyvek 

Yep, that stuff!

 

Edit:  I'm sure that with a little effort you could find someone to provide you samples of the material.  I'm sure there is a building products supplier in Australia that sells it.  DuPont has cut sheets they give out for samples.  Maybe they will give you some.

Edited February 26, 2022 by Tugadude
added info