Contact Cement - Recommendations?

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
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I have been using Barge Contact Cement from Tandy and I am running out. Without making ANOTHER trip to Tandy (30 mins one way) is there other Contact Cement you would recommend?

Am I over thinking it - any contact cement made for leather work?

Thanks,

TF
 
i have used duco cement which has worked fairly well for me. it comes in a green tube and i pick mine up at family dollar here in town.
 
If you have a Wal Mart near you look in the glue isle for Weldwood brand contact cement. I've been using it for years. Its the same stuff at way less than half the price of the Barge brand. Its in the quart can, you'll need a small "brush can" to dispense it into.

They also carry a smaller can in a hanging blister pack, its a different brand, but just as good as I use it when I need to replace my small can.
 
Got Weldwood today - I opened a smaller jar and saw it was the SAME looking as the stuff i use at home - Brought it home and it acts the same...

Acts like a duck - quacks like a duck.

Thanks for the feedback - it is about 1/3 the price as the Tandy stuff.

TF
 
Smells as bad as the other stuff too huh? :p Nasty
 
Tal that Weldwood is that same stuff that Sandy has been using for a long long time. Its works real good, and cheaper too.
 
Yeah - and it is FASTER - holy crap. I had VERY little wiggle room.

But what the hell does Sandy know - I mean - HOW long has he been doing this?







What? Since before I was alive?


Oh - That is my bad! ;)


TF
 
HOW long has he (Sandy) been doing this?
Click to expand...
since 1947 - he rode his Knucklehead Harley cross country from Florida to California to get his original training via the GI Bill........

IIRC Paul Long started in the very early 1950's......

I started a few years later in 1961 - as a Cub Scout - a bit earlier in life than the other two but there's till no way I can catch up.........

I use the original formula Weldwood too and have for beaucoup years..........

Factoid: Barge is often stated as being developed for the leather trade - not exactly true - it was developed specifically for gluing shoe soles, both leather and rubber.........
 
I've gone through my second childhood and am really living it up on my third. Life don't get much better than this---hubba hubba!!! Ye olde faht, Sandy.
 
Swivelknife said:
I've gone through my second childhood and am really living it up on my third. Life don't get much better than this---hubba hubba!!! Ye olde faht, Sandy.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you need to make another trip west :D maybe we could do some leather work together this time...............

Sandy and me last time........we hid the empties before taking the pic.....:p
00-sandy-chuck-1.jpg


Not sure which one of us looks older........
 
You know your an old dude when you have one of those 'green' Navy style tattoos on your forearm.

You have to watch both those guys... They may be old, they may be slow - but they are wiley - and likely well armed! ;)

TF
 
Gents, thanks for the information on Weldwood Contact Cement. I just found out that my local Lowes carries 3oz bottles of it and I plan to buy some soon.

Anything I should know about it before using? I've been using glue for a while now to hold things in place while forming and stitching but want to use something better. Thanks,

Heber
 
Contact Cement is very, very flammable.
Use with care, read the label.
:D
 
wildmanh said:
Gents, thanks for the information on Weldwood Contact Cement. I just found out that my local Lowes carries 3oz bottles of it and I plan to buy some soon.

Anything I should know about it before using? I've been using glue for a while now to hold things in place while forming and stitching but want to use something better. Thanks,

Heber
Click to expand...

I tried to tell you waaaay back in the day! But nooooooo. :p

I looked at Lowes recently, and they are a bit more expensive than Wally World, but if you dont want to feed the beast then your good to go. I dont like feeding it, but the savings I cant ignore. sad but true.
 
Well, I was running out of Barge and gave that weldwood a try, :thumbup:
it works as well or better than the barge did, just need to find a small
cannister to pour some in, so I don't have to keep opening that big can!

Seems like it bonds the leather better too, maybe being a little thinner it
sinks in better, not sure why, but it does VERY good.

A Convert here!
G2

PS the smell is VERY heady, you want to work with some ventilation for sure!!!
good thing I don't smoke ;)
 
"Original Formula" Weldwood is very similar to the old formula Barge. The newer formulas of Barge are becoming more and more uncertain with regard to chemicals like Toulene being removed. I am considering the switch to Weldwood when my current supply of Barge is exhausted, assuming the "Original Formula" is still available at that time.

My biggest concern is finding a good thinner that will work with the Weldwood. I think straight toulene will work and possibly methyl ethyl ketone, both of which are available in the paint section of many hardware stores and both are present in the formulation of Weldwood.

I use my Barge, Weldwood, or whatever at a consistency that many would consider too thin, but I find I get a much better bond and better overall results using the thinned down product. I probably wind up using a gal. of thinner to every gal. and a half or so of cement. This is mixed a small batch at a time in my teflon glue pot. The glue pot is available from Tandy and others and is relatively expensive, but I have used the same one for years and it is very handy and surely beats the small bottles, cans etc.

Paul
 
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