Leather Glues

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Snappy advises

Leather Glues – what to choose?

We carry three types of leather glue. You spread contact adhesives Renia Colle de Cologne and Top-Fit on both parts, and the bond holds as soon as you press them together. Water-based Aquilim 315 is solvent-free and the bond stays flexible. Instant Loctite glues bond metal or a small part within seconds. To find the one that suits your materials, use the Which glue for which material tool.

Parameter guide

What the parameters mean and how to choose the right values.

The contents of the pack, in millilitres for liquids and in grams for pastes and waxes. Pack sizes differ from maker to maker, and American brands often fill by the US fluid ounce (29.5 ml). To compare prices, work out the cost per millilitre or gram, not per pack.

The brand the goods are made under. It works mainly as a filter: when a series already under way uses one brand of hardware or dye, you can reorder the same version without wondering whether the shade or the shape differs. Every item has our own product code anyway.

Frequently asked questions

The most common questions – materials, selection and practical tips.

No. The word “Stand” followed by a date (for example “Stand 08/2021”) is neither an expiry date nor a production date. It marks the label version, i.e. the date on which the manufacturer Renia approved its design and legal wording.

Renia uses it to keep up with ongoing changes to EU legislation on chemical products, such as the CLP Regulation. The date shows which requirements the label was created under. It has nothing to do with when the tin was filled or how old its contents are.

The manufacturer Renia guarantees the technical properties of its products for 12 months from production. Renia usually produces fresh to order, so in practice you can count the 12 months roughly from delivery.

When stored properly, the products remain usable much longer. According to the manufacturer, the properties of most of them usually do not change for another 2–3 years.

The manufacturer is not required to state a production date or a best-before date on these chemical products.

Top-Fit is the fastest, Colle de Cologne the most universal, and Aquilim 315 is solvent-free.

  • Top-Fit: contact cement with very high initial tack, so you work on the piece right after joining. It bonds leather, rubber, EVA, felt and cork. It does not bond plasticised PVC.

  • Colle de Cologne: universal contact cement; you can handle the piece after a few minutes. It also bonds fabric, metal and plasticised PVC (vinyl).

  • Aquilim 315: water-based and solvent-free. The dried film stays very flexible and transparent. It dries in 30 to 60 minutes and reaches maximum strength after 2 days.

All three bond leather to leather. The choice depends on what you are bonding to the leather and whether you want to work without solvents.

Renia Colle de Cologne bonds leather to waterproof PVC-coated webbing and to metal. The manufacturer lists it as the only one of our Renia glues for fabric, metal and plasticised PVC.

  • Metal (tag, ring, rivet): for small metal parts we recommend Loctite 401 instant glue, which the manufacturer lists for metals and for leather.

  • Do not use Top-Fit on PVC-coated webbing, as according to the manufacturer it does not bond plasticised PVC.

  • Polypropylene webbing holds with contact cement only if you first briefly pass the surface through the flame of a gas torch.

According to the technical data sheets, we have no verified bond for TPU coating or for nylon. Secure such a joint with rivets or stitching. You will find more material pairs in the tool Which glue for which material.

Contact cement contains solvents and you coat both parts with it. Water-based glue is solvent-free, but it dries more slowly.

  • Contact cement (Top-Fit, Colle de Cologne): solvent-based and highly flammable. Thin and clean it with Renia thinner.

  • Water-based (Aquilim 315): solvent-free, and the manufacturer does not classify it as hazardous. It dries in 30 to 60 minutes, and once it turns clear it is dry. Wash your tools with water. It must not freeze.

When you glue absorbent leather to a dense material, coat only the dense side with Aquilim 315 and join the parts within a few minutes. You will find the explanation and the procedure in the Aquilim 315 technical data sheet.

Yes. The manufacturer lists both Loctite 401 and Loctite 454 as suitable for porous materials too, including leather and fabric. They suit small areas and leather-to-metal bonds best.

  • Loctite 401 is a liquid and sets on leather in 15 to 30 seconds.

  • Loctite 454 is a gel, does not run on a vertical surface and sets on leather in 5 to 15 seconds.

Apply the glue to one surface only and do not spread it with a brush or a cloth. Position the parts exactly right first time, as after a few seconds you will no longer be able to move them. The bond usually reaches full strength after 24 to 72 hours.

Roughen both parts, coat them and join them within the glue's open time, then press them firmly together.

  1. Roughen both surfaces. Sand the leather or clean it.

  2. Coat both parts until you can see a layer of glue on them. Absorbent leather sometimes needs two coats.

  3. Join the parts within the open time. According to the manufacturer it depends on the material; you will find the exact values in the technical data sheets for Top-Fit and Colle de Cologne.

  4. Press. The manufacturer specifies a pressure of 1 to 5 bar: at least 60 seconds at 1 bar, at least 15 seconds at 3 bar. Do not deform soft materials while pressing, or you will break the glue film.

The bond keeps gaining strength: for the first day with Top-Fit, for the first two days with Colle de Cologne.

For leather to leather, use Renia Top-Fit. It grips straight after joining, so you can carry on working on the piece right away.

  • Leather with waterproof PVC-coated webbing: Renia Colle de Cologne. According to the manufacturer, Top-Fit does not bond plasticised PVC.

  • Solvent-free: Renia Aquilim 315, water-based. It dries more slowly, in 30 to 60 minutes.

  • Small metal part on leather: Loctite 401 instant glue.

For any other pair of materials, the tool Which glue for which material will pick the glue for you.

Why Pet Hardware®

  • About us 37 years supplying hardware to makers and workshops, 103,033 customers so far.
  • About us Hardware, leather and tools under one roof. For collars, leashes, halters, belts and handbags.
  • Why choose us Buy more, pay less. You see pack and carton prices and any order-value discount before paying.

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