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The Best Glue for Leather Products

Leather is a great material for a variety of different crafts and other projects, but it isn't always the easiest material to glue. Consider these factors to choose the right kind of glue for your next leather repair or craft project.

Assessing Your Project

There are several different types of glue that can work well on leather. The best glue for leather really depends on the specifics of your project. Before you pick a glue, you should take some time to gather your materials and think about what you're going to do with the finished product. It's best to know exactly what thickness of leather you're working with and what you actually want to use the glue for before choosing. If you're planning on gluing something ornamental to a pair of leather shoes, for example, you may want to use a heavy-duty glue. If you're just planning on using leather for kid's crafts, light-duty fabric glues can be suitable.

What Do You Want the Leather to Bond To?

Different materials call for different glues. For example, if you want to glue leather to leather, contact adhesives and fabric glue work well. If you want to glue paper to leather, you can use a spray adhesive or fabric glue. Thicker materials that don't always bond well, like felt, may require the use of a two-part adhesive to reliably bond to leather. Note that this advice may not apply to synthetic leather material unless its texture and finish is very similar to that of genuine leather.

For bonding cork, balsa, ceramic or metal to leather, contact adhesives and cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) work best, explains Rebecca Husemann for Make: Magazine. You can use these adhesives for gluing wood to leather as well, or try wood glue. An all-purpose glue might be enough to bond ceramic to leather too, and it works well with glass or Styrofoam to leather. Rubber to leather requires cyanoacrylate, which is also good for plastic to leather, although spray adhesives tend to work well for this latter combination too.

Are Aesthetics a Concern?

Glues often dry to a different color than they initially appear when dispensed from their tube. If the glue is going to be visible, or if you're working with a thin piece of leather, you should check to make sure the glue dries clear or to another desirable color, like black or white. Some glue formulas that are suitable for leather come in a variety of different colors that you can choose from. It may also be important to ensure the glue is flexible after drying so it doesn't create unwanted stiff patches in leather that's supposed to drape or flex naturally.

How Strong a Bond Do You Need?

Finally, you should think about whether you need a strong, permanent bond that can withstand weight, heat or other forces that can cause glue to break. Check the packaging of the glue you're considering to see if it gives bond strength information.

Testing Before Finalizing

If possible, you should try to test the glue you've chosen on scrap pieces from your project. While this may not be possible if you're trying to repair something, it is a step you should probably take when you have extra material laying around. That way, you can see whether the glue performs the way you want it to so you don't damage the materials you've prepared.

Carnegie Voldall1998