There so many different types of glues when you search on the internet. While there are some glues that are known to be good all-round, there are others that are simply great for specific purposes. So in this article, I set out to find out what glues are the best for velcro to leather bonding?
The best glue for velcro to leather bonding in no particular order are:
- Tear Mender Adhesive: Overall Best Glue For Velcro To Leather
- Elmer’s Craft Bond: This glue great not for its amazing bonding qualities but also price
- Gorilla Glue: This is going to be the best super glue for Velcro To Leather bonding
In the remaining parts of this article, I’m going to delve into all the details of the products listed above and highlight their best features, pros, and cons. But first, let me run you through a quick buying guide to help point you in the right direction.
Best Glue For Velcro To Leather – Buying Guide
Here are a few tips on how to choose a good glue for your velcro to leather bonding. This is my guide to help you pick out the best glue that’s going to be suitable to your specific needs.
1. Flexible Vs Rigid Dry Glues
Different glues will dry differently. While some will dry rigid others will dry flexible. What does this mean?
Rigid-Dry Glues
Rigid dry glues are glues that after it has cured leaves the bonded material very rigid or in a way that you would not be bend it.
These types of glues will generally be suitable for adhering velcro to the parts of a leather item that is fixed, has some form of backing, or has parts that do not flex, bend, or crease.
This will typically include parts around the gussets of bags (fixed-gussets to be precise), attaching flaps to briefcases, some parts of shoe flaps, etc.
The type of glues that will generally bond your velcro to your leather and leave it rigid after curing will generally be the super glues.
Later in this article, I’m going to share with you some more helpful information about super glue and how it’s going to be helpful when bonding velcro to leather.
Flexible Dry Glues
These types of glues are the more leather specific glues. With this type of glue, after they have been applied and dried, and cured, it is still going to retain a good about of flexibility on the leather.
Meaning you will be able to easily bend the leather item or maintain the leather item’s flexibility after the glue has been applied.
These types of glues will generally include leather glues, contact cement glues, etc. I will share a bit more information later in this buying guide.
2. Colored vs Clear Dry Glues
Different glues dry differently. There are some types of glues that will dry clear as opposed to others that will leave a stain on the surface of the leather you’re bonding.
Clear Dry Glues
Generally, if you wouldn’t want any traces of glue or glue stains on your leather item, then you want to look out for glues with features that include “it dries clear”.
These types of glue will usually be white and will dry clear. Because they dry clear, they can be used on any color of the leather item and any kind of leather finish as they do not leave behind any stain.
Colored Dry Glues
On the other hand, glues that dry colored will generally be suitable for dark-colored leather items.
Also if you do not mind the colors the glue is going to leave on your leather item whether light-colored or dark-colored then you can go for it anyways.
3. Quick Dry vs Slow Dry Glues
There are glues that dry fast and there are others that take a bit of time to dry and also cure.
Typically, super glues will dry faster than most types of glues. This will not make the super glues the best types of glue.
A mentioned before, these glues tend to dry rigid, so if you would want a glue that dries fast and rigid then this is definitely going to be what you would want to get.
Otherwise, there are glues that will take a lot more time to dry. These glues may even need clamps to hold them in place as they dry. A typical example is the tear mender.
4. Permanent Bond Glues vs Temporary Bond Glue
While there are so many reasons for choosing the best glue for your need, figuring out if you would want the glue you pick out to offer you permanent bonding or temporal bonding is also another important factor to consider.
Permanent Bond Glues
Permanent bond glues are glues that are meant to give your velcro and leather permanent bonding. You would not be able to remove or separate a bond easily.
These types of glues will need you to be as precise as possible as there might not be a chance to correct what’s already bonded.
But the great thing about the permanent bond glue is that you wouldn’t need to reinforce the adhesion with stitches or rivets.
Their bonds are very strong and will be able to withstand every day putting together and pulling apart of the velcro. A good example of a permanent bond glue is contact cement glue.
Temporary Bond
These temporary bond glues, on the other hand, as the name implies will only offer temporal bonding. They will offer a very light hold on the velcro you want to attach to your leather.
These glues work well for most general leathercraft projects and repairs as they are good for holding the velcro in place on the leather temporarily if you’re looking to sew the velcro to the leather.
A temporary bond glue will dry relatively fast and will provide you just about the right hold: enough so the velcro will not shift when moving your sewing machine.
And if you wish to pull the velcro off the leather to make any readjustments, you will be able to do so with ease. A good example of a temporal bond glue is Elmer’s glue.
Best Glue For Velcro To Leather – Reviews
Now that we have gone through the guide that will help you lookout for the most important factors to consider, let’s now head over to the meat of this article – The Reviews.
1. Tear Mender Adhesive (Overall Best Glue For Velcro To Leather)
The Tear Mender Instant Adhesive is my overall pick for the best glue for velcro to leather.
Tear Mender, originally known as Tehr Greeze, in 1932 is a U.S brand and is one of the best when it comes to manufacturing glues for fabric and leather.
Their glue formula includes compounds that will help form a permanent bond for your velcro to leather bonding and other porous material.
The Tear Mender Adhesive formula is non-toxic and comes prepared with an only natural latex material.
The bond that Tear Mender offers is instant and highly durable. Tear Mender is an instant dry glue. Its overall drying and curing time is around 2-3 minutes which is faster than most other types of glue.
One important feature of the Tear Mender Adhesive is that the Tear Mender adhesive is a flexible dry glue. Because of this, you will be able to use this glue for bonding velcro to leather on any type of leather item.
Pros:
- Fast-drying glue
- Forms a permanent, long-lasting, and durable bond
- Glue stains can easily be removed
- It dries clear
- Dries flexible
- Suitable for both outdoor and indoor use
- Reasonably priced
- Great for all wearable leather goods
- It offers a waterproof bond
- Its bond can withstand UV rays (UV resistant)
- It’s acid-free
- A little goes a long way
- It’s non-toxic
- Require no heat or special solvents to bond or cure
- Suitable for sports gear, travel gear, and other types of upholstery
Cons:
- It may sometimes require the use of clamps
If you’re interested in the Tear Mender Instant Adhesive, you can check it out over here on Amazon as it comes in different sizes ranging from 2 Oz all the way up to 16 Oz.
2. Elmer’s Craft Bond (Best Budget Glue For Velcro To Leather)
