Leather gives you a class. It is among the most durable materials in the market. However, it will require you extra precision and effort to protect them against damages. Taking a leather product for patchwork in a repair shop may cost you a fortune. You can, however, buy leather glue and do the job at home by yourself. There are varieties of leather glue in the market, and it may not be easy to get the perfect glue. The best glue for leather needs to be able to handle extreme moisture and temperatures. It should be able to handle immersion, cold, and hot temperatures. Below I will give you a guide on the best glue to use of leather material.
Top 3 glue for leather For Quick Selections
Top 10 Best glue for leather Reviews
01. Shoe Goo Repair Adhesive
Shoo Goo leather glue is designed for use in sealing and repairing shoes, but you can also use it for your other gluing needs. This glue creates a strong bond and sealant, which can withstand the test of time to flexible materials. It is not only for use on leather products, but you can also use it to repair other materials such as wood, canvas, rubber, or vinyl.
The glue is in a small and affordable tube. The size should not worry you since just a little of it will take you a long way. It is ideal for use as a sealant and also for patching small holes. Since the glue is waterproof, you can use it to repair boots without cracking or breaking.
02. Aleene’s Leather & Suede Glue
Have you ever been in a situation where your favorite leather item has a tear and wondering how to repair it? Aleene is among the most amazing leather glue ideal for anyone looking for perfect and affordable leather glue. The glue only works on leather products. This glue is made with non-toxic materials that make permanent bonds easily infringe, leather, beads, and suede to leather.
You can use it to repair products such as shoes, belts, and purses, among others. Aleene’s leather and suede glue is transparent, flexible, and dries fast, and that is why it is highly recommended for leather products. This leather glue is also affordable and easy to use for maximum convenience.
03. Tear Mender Instant Fabric and Leather Adhesive
Are you unsure of the types of glue to use on your rubber or leather shoes? Tear Mender Instant glue will help you fix the problem. It is a latex-based adhesive that you can use to repair leather and fabric. Once you use it, the product will dry and form an instant and permanent job with your artwork. This bond is waterproof, machine washable, dry cleanable, and flexible. This is what makes the tear mender instant fabric and leather adhesive glue to stand out.
The bonds in which the glue forms are non-toxic, non-flammable, and UV resistant thus perfect for kid-related artworks and projects. You also do not need to use any solvents, heat, or iron to cure it. Use Tear Mender Instant adhesive anytime anywhere, especially when working on cuts, wear, and tears of products made of leather.
04. E6000 237032 Craft Adhesive
E6000 Craft is a unique type of adhesive which you can use for different purposes. It is a fantastic crafting tool that you can use to meet industrial requirements. It provides exceptional adhesion on concrete, metal, wood, ceramics, fiberglass, and glass, among other materials. It is a perfect product for surfaces for vinyl, rubber, plastics, and leather. It is the ideal adhesive to use for tough projects where you want a firm bond for metal, wood, and rubber.
E6000 237032 Craft adhesive is clear when it dries. It is waterproof and dryer and machine washable. The most fantastic thing about this glue is that it is temperature resistant and thus it will stay flexible even when subjected to extreme conditions. It is, therefore, ideal rubber cement glue for repairing shoes and other materials. The adhesive is, however, not instant, and thus you need some time to make a complete and robust bond.
05. Beacon Adhesives 527 Multi-use Glue
Among the things that make Beacon Adhesives 527 glue stand out are that it is a super strong adhesive, fast drying and you can use it for multiple purposes. Do not underestimate the ability of this glue due to its size. This leather glue comes with a tiny precision tip which makes your work easy, especially when working on lines or dots. It becomes transparent after drying, making it a perfect choice for crafting and other home projects.
Since Beacon Adhesives 527 glue is multi-purpose, you can use it on leather, gems, cardboard, metal, cork, and ceramics among other materials. It is well known for creating a long-lasting bond. This super-strong adhesive is resistant to water and thus an ideal glue to use on shoe and jacket repair.
06. Barge All-Purpose Cement Quart (O22721)
Barge Cement Quart comes in a big tin box that will offer you solutions for all your leather repair problems. It is an all-purpose cement glue that you can use to patch concrete, metal, rubber, wood, boots paper, plastic, and leather shoes. The can comes with an applicator brush which is attached on top of its lid. Ensure that you apply the glue on both sides for a strong bond.
Give the glue a drying time of 15 to 20 minutes and an overnight curing period to achieve optimum results. The glue is not visible after application. It is also flexible after and during use. Barge All-Purpose Cement Quart is manufactured in the United States, and thus you can be sure of its authenticity. It is a high-quality leather glue available in several online shops at a reasonable price. The product is, however, flammable and you can only transport it by land.
07. Fiebing’s Leathercraft Cement
At times we use glue that fails to give our expected results, and we end up asking, which is the best glue to use on leather? Fiebing’s Leathercraft Cement is the answer to your problems. It is non-toxic glue that provides a strong bond for leather and rubber projects. It is an ideal choice for holding rubber contact cement to leather. The cement creates a flexible bond resistant to water and fire.
This easy-to-use glue is water-based. It is therefore quite easy to remove any excess contact cement that sticks on your hands or floor when applying. Fiebing’s Leathercraft Cement dries up very nicely. It is also affordable and can easily be found in many online shops. It works well on leather, rubber fabric, cotton, glass, and plastic. You will not go through any complexity when using this cement. You only need to remove the cork and start applying it on the required surface.
08. Krazy Glue Home & Office Brush-On Super Glue
Krazy Home & Office glue is an ideal product for different bonding things which range from a leather bag to a mug. This super glue is quite versatile. It is ideal for bonding ceramic, wood, vinyl, plastic, metal leather, and other materials. The company that sells this super glue is a small anti-clog tube that gives you a smooth operation. It also comes along with a brush which you use to apply the super glue on objects. The brush is convenient since it offers great coverage control when applying the glue.
The tiny brush also ensures even application and avoids any type of air pockets from the uneven coating. The no-clog bottle makes sure that the bristles do not stick to each other. Krazy Home & Office glue is an affordable product that provides instant results. So, the next time you break your favorite mug, do not throw it away but use Krazy glue to hold it back into place.
09. Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Gorilla glue is well known to manufacture high-quality products, and their leather glue is not any different. Their super glue develops very strong and durable bonds on leather and other materials. This glue is made with a no-run control formula, and thus you are able to use it very precisely. On top of the leather, you can also use the glue for plastics, wood, ceramic, and even rubber.
Gorilla Super Glue Gel comes in an anti-clog tube package which prevents it from drying off. It will dry off within 10 to 45 seconds after usage, which is a great feature. It expands up to four times after drying up, which helps to create a stronger bond. It is the ideal glue for repairing your household items. It is crucial to note that this flue is not flexible, and thus you should only use it on items you do not expect to bend or flex.
However, it is hard to get out when it sticks to your hand, so you need to take extra care during the application process. In case, it accidentally drops on your hand, wipe it out with a few drops of gasoline. It is also recommendable not to use the Gorilla Super Glue Gel on polypropylene and polyethylene plastic.
10. Barge All-Purpose Cement
This is the other contact cement that provides an easy-to-use option for beginners. Barge All-Purpose Cement glue enables you to bond your leather with any other material you desire without having any issues. This leather glue can be used on the gumline, EVA, neoprene, nitrile, SBR, cotton, aluminum, steel, woven and synthetic fabric, fiber materials, cork, glass, leather, wood, rubber, and particleboard.
When using Barge, it is important you follow the contact cement protocol. The surfaces you want to bond must be clean. Apply the glue on both surfaces you want to bond and leave them to dry for about 30 minutes before you bond them together. It will take some time for you to get your desired strong bond without leaving any residue insight.
You should leave the items you have glues for 24 hours for them to cure before use. Barge provides a waterproof, strong, flexible, and durable bond. Ensure that you spread the glue-up to edges for you to get a seamless edge that will not peel away. However, when the glue dries, it leaves some color and thus not ideal for anyone looking for a clear adhesive.
Buying Guide for Leather Glue
Before you buy leather glue, it is important to know the kind of damage you have. This will enable you to choose the right leather glue for your purpose. Check the ingredients of the glue and background of the company to see if it is what you need. Ensure that you read the instructions on how to use the glue and the right amount to use before the application. Below are the other things you need to keep in mind when choosing leather glue:
Adhesive Ability
This is one of the most important things to have in leather glue. Pay special attention to the strength of the glue for leather before you buy it. Ensure that the leather glue will provide you with strong bonds. Consider products made with rubber cement, cyanoacrylate, and polyurethane (it is good for tiny gaps and holes).
Heat and Water Resistant
Whatever materials you will be bonding with leather will come into contact with water at one time or another. You need to be sure that the bond will not be affected by the water at all. This is why you need to ensure that the glue you will be using is resistant to water. It should also be able to withstand extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Durability
Of course, you do not want to repair it every day. To avoid this, make sure that the leather glue you use will offer a bond that will pass the test of time. The best leather glue will serve you for long, even when subjected to harsh weather and temperatures.
Color
Some leather glue will be clear after drying up while some will leave some color. Choose wisely depending on the surface you will be using it on. With clear leather glue, you will never go wrong since it will not leave any stains.
Flexibility
Leather is a material that is you wear easily, and it will be good for the glue you use on the leather to be flexible. In this case, it will be able to adapt to the changes that happen on the leather after some time. If the types of products you need to bond are stiff then, in that case, there is no problem using non-flexible glue such as Gorilla Super Glue Gel.
Ease of Application
We are not all professionals in bonding leather with various materials. For DIY projects and crafts, maybe in the office or at home, it is prudent to get leather glue that is easy and simple to use.
Cost
The leather glue should fit your budget. Go through the various products online and see the one that fits both your requirements and budget. However, take care not to forego quality for a cheap-priced product.
Why You Need Special Types of Glue for Leather
Leather glue is not just like any other purpose glue you get in the market. Leather is a durable material, and thus you require a strong glue to attach it. Regular glues in the market will not give you the strong attachment you are looking for leather materials. Leather glues have been made to withstand, heat, water, and other harsh climatic conditions, unlike some regular glue. They are also designed to give a strong and permanent bond that will last for a long time. The perfect leather glue should be flexible and able to withstand wear and tear over time.
Gluing Leather with Other Materials
When working with leather or leather-made products, you will probably also be involved with other materials. Therefore it is crucial to know how you glue leather to other materials. Different materials need specific glues. Therefore the leather glue should be able to bond bot the leather and other materials. Here is how you glue leather to other materials:
Gluing Leather to Leather
It is pretty easy to attach the leather to another piece of leather. The best type of leather glue for leather is contact cement. The best contact glue you can use is E600leather to leather. You can also consider Gorilla but only on leather items that you do not expect adjustments in the future since it is not flexible. Those who do not want to have their hands dirty when bonding leather with leather can opt for a spray adhesive.
These adhesives and glue will work in the fixing of jackets made of leather, repairing leather shoes and pin-hole tears on wallets and any other torn leather fabric. You can also use these glues to do a repair on your leather couch. Put some glue on each side of the leather surface and put them together. If the glue used has a fast drying and curing time, then you can use them immediately. However, if you use contact cement, you will have to wait for a longer period like 10 to 15 minutes before you bond the two surfaces. The bond created using contact cement cannot be adjusted later.
Gluing Leather to Wood
Most of the time when bonding furniture, you will get to a point you want to attach wood and leather. At this point, you will need glue that is strong enough to withstand weight, mobility, and that can mount leather to wood. Barge contact cement is the best glue to use when attaching the leather to wood. You can also use E6000 adhesive, which also works pretty well on wood and leather. Contact cement will give a strong bond after drying, but it will take longer to dry and cure compared to other leather glues.
Before you start gluing leather to wood, sand the surface and remove any type of pealing vanish that may come off, and take the leather with it. Then wipe the wood with a clean and dry cloth and later score it to give it the rough plane. This process is simply Sand, Clean, and Score. After cleaning, apply contact cement directly on the rough side of the wood and attach the leather. Putting the wood and leather in a grip will assist in securing the glue by preventing movement. Place some material between the vice and the leather to ensure that the vice does not mark the leather.
Gluing Leather to Metal
Metal and leather have different textures, and thus gluing them together can be a little tricky. Therefore when gluing leather to the metal, you need to use leather glue that will not move, slip, or change position. People have always argued on the best glue to use between fabric glue, super glue, and contact glue in this situation. Though you can use any of the three leather types of glue, I would recommend you to use the original superglue target. Krazy Superglue and Gorilla Super Glue gel can be a good option for this purpose. These are a few options that will give you a strong bond when gluing leather to metal.
The first step in the process of gluing leather to metal is cleaning the metal. If it has any kind of rust, remove it as much as you can. Leather may seem to adhere to leather at first, but it will crumble apart in the future. The next step is to score the metal. Create a coarse surface by marking the metal since leather is difficult to stick on even and smooth surfaces. Once you attach the leather, make sure that you squeeze off any air bubbles in between. Leaving air bubbles will make the leather peel away, especially in the summer season when the metal warms up.
Gluing Leather to Plastic
The glue leather to plastic, you need to find a suitable adhesive for both materials. The leather glue you choose should be heavy-duty, versatile, and should work well without causing damage to either of the surfaces. The best glue for plastic is contact cement.
To bond plastic and leather start by cleaning the surfaces with damp clothing. Remove any dust on the surface and allow it to air dry. Apply a little amount of contact glue on both services. Use your finger to spread it to get a thin layer both on the leather and plastic material. Use a damp cloth to wipe your finger and position the two surfaces in place, pressing them together.
Finally, place a heavy object on the two so as to hold a strong bond. Leave them to dry and cure completely before use. Do not forget to score the surface by making marks on it. This will increase the friction and surface area, thus making the leather stick easily.
Gluing Leather to Fabric
One of the most delicate projects you will do when dealing with leather is linking it to the fabric. The first them to having a successful project is getting to know what glue or adhesive works well for both fabric and leather. Using the wring leather glue or adhesive will ruin the fabric. The best type of glue you can use to bond leather and fabric are adhesive leather glues. These adhesives are found in both spray and contact options. Contact leather glues give the user great control over the bond they create on fabric and leather. Spray adhesives created a weaker bond compared to contact glue.
Just like other materials, you need to clean the two surfaces before you bond them. Wipe both the fabric and the leather with a moist cloth to remove any type of sticky build-up. Once they have dried up, apply glue on both surfaces. If you are using a contact adhesive, rub a thin layer on both the leather and fabric surfaces. If you decide to use the spray-on adhesive, hold it three inches from the surfaces and spray a thin mist on both leather and fabric.
Place the two materials together and tightly hold them together to create a strong bond. You can place a heavy object or a book where possible on top of the two surfaces for around four hours to ensure a dry and strong adhesion. The fabric has to be dry before applying an adhesive; otherwise, the water will prevent the two surfaces from sticking.
If the material is wet, the water particles will block space for the glue while you want the glue to soak into the fabric. Always keep off the surfaces that you have out together. Do not put it on another soft furnishing since the glue may lick from the fabric and stick on areas you never intended.
Gluing Leather to Kydex
Kydex is a quite tricky material to bond with leather. For you to bond the two, you will have to follow some process. Start by melting the Kydex surface and prepare the leather surface too. Use contact glue that mixes with the solvent melted Kydex. Attach the roughed-out leather to the melted Kydex and glue. The best glue to create this bond is PVC adhesive. It is also advisable to use it with a secondary holder for a long-lasting bond.
Leather Glue vs. Contact Cement
When looking for leather glue, you will most likely come across, options of contact cement. In most cases, the contact cement glues will be on the same shelf as leather glues. Both the leather glues and contact cement are effective when dealing with leather projects, but it is crucial to know how the two differ.
The main difference between the two types of glue is their application processes. For leather glue, the application process is similar to that of any other glue. You start by identifying the surface you want to attach the leather, apply glue on the leather, and stick it to the target spot. You are free to adjust the leather as you need until it dries completely. This is the classic and typical process that you use when using normal glue.
The process of applying contact glue is different. After identifying the two surfaces, you want to bond, apply contact glue on each of the surfaces. Let the contact glue stay for around 15 minutes before bonding. Once the glue had dried, attach the leather to the other target spot by matching the contact cement glue applications together. After matching the two surfaces, you will have created a permanent bond. Unlike the glue where you can adjust, with contact cement, you will not be able to make any adjustments.
Contact cement creates a permanent and strong and does not give you room for error. Therefore you need to be very careful when attaching leather using contact cement. Leather glue, on the other hand, gives you room to adjust the position after application until it dries up.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q: What Is The Best Glue To Use On Leather?
Ans: There are two most common types of glues you can use when doing leather projects. You can use rubber cement or contact cement. Rubber cement holds leather together by forming a temporary bond. The rubber cement glues are used before riveting, sewing, or doing similar operations.
Contact cement, on the other hand, holds leather together by creating a permanent bond. This glue is mainly used when attaching the lining to leather or when you want to add more strength. Once you attach leather with contact cement, you cannot adjust positions. Once it dries, it is not possible to pull the surfaces apart without damaging the materials.
Different glues have different open times, which gives you time to adjust. Therefore the best glue for leather depends on your preference. If you prefer a temporary bond, rubber glue is the best. However, if you want a permanent job, then contact cement is a perfect choice.
Q: Is Gorilla Glue Good For Leather?
Ans: Gorilla glue is ideal to use on the leather since it creates a strong adhesive bond. After applying it, it expands as it dries this forming a permanent and unbreakable bond. You can use it to bond leather to metal, wood, and even stone surfaces. It is also resistant to moisture and extreme temperatures, thus a perfect choice for bonding leather used on luggage, boots, and even saddler.
Q: Does Super Glue Work on Leather?
Ans: Superglue will work on leather depending on where you use it. If you use it to repair a small chip, then it will work perfectly. It will also work well when used on a surface that will not bend or flex. It is however not ideal for places that will not flex at all. For instance, if you use superglue in a back cushion or a seat, it will be okay at the beginning, but it will fail afterward.
Q: Can You Use PVA Glue for Leather?
Ans: PVA is one of the most common and versatile glues you will get in the market. It can effectively be used to bond papers, plaster, wood, fabrics, cards, and leather. PVA offers strong and flexible bonds. It is also not acidic, unlike other types of polymers. It is also soluble in water, and thus you can add water to the PVA glue to form a less gloopy and thinner glue.
Q: What Kind of Glue Can I Use to Repair Leather?
Ans: There are several types of glue you can use to repair leather, but it will depend on the kind of item you are repairing. When repairing leather shoes or jackets, consider waterproof and flexible leather glue. When repairing utensils, you will have to ensure that the leather glue is non-toxic and safe to use on utensils. Also, look for leather glue that can withstand extreme moisture and temperatures.
Q: Can You Use Elmer’s Glue on Leather?
Ans: Elmer’s Glue is American-made multi-purpose glue. It is ideal to use on fabric, wood, paper, ceramics, and leather. It is non-toxic and waterproof. You can use it when doing school projects, crafting, or even repairing households.
Q: Does Flex Glue Work on Leather?
Ans: Yes. You can use flex glue to bond leather with other materials. Flex glue is waterproof, rubberized, super strong, and easy to use glue that you can use to make instant repairs, seals, and bonds on virtually everything. You do not need to use nails or screws since the glue works like a magnet. It locks things into place and holds them tight. Once the flex glue has dried, it creates such a strong bond that for you to separate the two materials again, you will have to cause damage on the surfaces. It is also food-grade safe and non-toxic.
Conclusion
Everyone has one of their favorite leather items. Protecting the item will require one to put in a lot of effort. However, if things go wrong, you can always make them good by repairing them with leather glue. The guide below makes your search for the best leather glue easy. They all have their special features, pros, and cons. Carry out good research to make sure that you get the leather glue that is most suitable for you. It is prudent to consider leather glue which is waterproof, flexible, durable, and can withstand extreme temperature and moisture.