Super glue is one of the strongest glues and is usually used in medical, industrial, and household items. Super glue is mostly valued due to its resistance to moisture and temperature changes and is commonly used in plastic, wood, metal, stone, and glass.
- Sometimes super glue is used on leather products and works effectively, but mostly it doesn’t work on leather and can damage the leather by producing an exothermic reaction.
Choose the appropriate glue for leather repair that will last a long.
Many factors affect the efficiency of glue that we will discuss in this article.
Table of Contents
Super glue can damage the leather:
If you ever use superglue, then you know that super glue may give you a burning sensation on your skin because super glue produces an exothermic reaction when it comes into contact with skin. Therefore, the leather may also deteriorate over time. So, if you have an expensive piece of leather, do not use super glue.
1. Leather is porous
Leather has pores that can absorb moisture, which can affect the bond of super glue. Therefore, super glue may not last long in humid places and air with a lot of moisture.
2. Glue Type
Leather glue
Leather glue has low VOC (a compound that is responsible for nausea and headaches) and creates a flexible bond. They are easy to use. People apply them on one piece of leather and bond it to the other piece before stitching.
Leather cement
A flexible bond is created by leather cement that is difficult to pull apart. But the problem is that cement has higher VOCs than leather glue. (Always wear a mask when using leather cement). Leather cement is more difficult to apply than glue because the cement should be evenly spread on both surfaces of the leather. The one and most important advantage are that it gives very strong bonding for almost all items, including shoes, bags, and jackets.
Although superglue is a well-known glue for its performance, it is not appropriate for leather items. Super glue bonds are not flexible, but they can be applied easily to repair things quickly.
3. Leather surface
The bonding of glue depends on the type of leather. If you are creating a complex bag, leather glue is not enough for it. You may need leather cement because it gives a near-permanent bond. If you are crafting a knife sheath or simple wallet, then a basic leather glue will work. However, certain glues may work better than others depending on the type and situation of your leather.
Waterproof and water resistance:
Bridle and latigo leather are some leathers that are well suited for wet conditions. For these types of leather, choose a leather glue.
Leather cement provides a waterproof seam, therefore it is a better option for facing sudden rainstorms.
Superglue tends to be waterproof.
4. drying time
Drying time can be a big deal for crafting large leather items. Different types of glues dry at different rates.
Leather glues
The speed of drying leather glue is slow. Often, it takes 10 to 20 minutes to bond the leather pieces.
Leather cement:
The drying speed of leather cement is fast. Just wait for one to two minutes after applying.
Super glue
Superglue dries fast within a minute or so.