Glueing leather to a case - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

8th Dec 2010, 6:53 pm

In this thread https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=62712 I said that I replaced the leatherette with leather, but how did I glue it?

I used contact cement (the proper smelly stuff) thinned down about 50:50 with cellulose thinners. This makes it easy to brush on both the case and the back of the leather (or whatever you want to stick on) without it going stringy. Contact cement as supplied is fine for large areas but not easy to apply in small areas, this trick makes it easy.

geofy · 9th Dec 2010, 11:29 am

You might find Solvite or Polycell Boarder and Overlap repair a better adhesive to use. It is a PVA adhesive which gives time to set things. Other types are the spray on ones, Rapid online have a good range of these.

9th Dec 2010, 11:57 am

The problem with water based glues is that they distort the leather and don't stick to shiney plastics. I have yet to find a 'green' adhesive that really sticks non porous materials.

geofy · 9th Dec 2010, 12:09 pm

That's a good point, though the boarder repair has been developed to minimise this risk. And contact adhesives can go brittle and end up more like a layer of plastic. The boarder repair label says it is suitable for leather and cloth as well as paper.

Mike Phelan · 9th Dec 2010, 6:03 pm

Spray adhesive from Woolies here.

8th Dec 2010, 6:53 pm	#1
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Glueing leather to a case In this thread https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=62712 I said that I replaced the leatherette with leather, but how did I glue it? I used contact cement (the proper smelly stuff) thinned down about 50:50 with cellulose thinners. This makes it easy to brush on both the case and the back of the leather (or whatever you want to stick on) without it going stringy. Contact cement as supplied is fine for large areas but not easy to apply in small areas, this trick makes it easy.

9th Dec 2010, 11:29 am	#2
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: Glueing leather to a case You might find Solvite or Polycell Boarder and Overlap repair a better adhesive to use. It is a PVA adhesive which gives time to set things. Other types are the spray on ones, Rapid online have a good range of these.

9th Dec 2010, 11:57 am	#3
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Glueing leather to a case The problem with water based glues is that they distort the leather and don't stick to shiney plastics. I have yet to find a 'green' adhesive that really sticks non porous materials.

9th Dec 2010, 12:09 pm	#4
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: Glueing leather to a case That's a good point, though the boarder repair has been developed to minimise this risk. And contact adhesives can go brittle and end up more like a layer of plastic. The boarder repair label says it is suitable for leather and cloth as well as paper.

9th Dec 2010, 6:03 pm	#5
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Glueing leather to a case Spray adhesive from Woolies here. __________________ Mike.