Post by 2nd Bat on Nov 28, 2016 21:10:32 GMT -5
I have discovered the magic of fabric glue! In spite of great apprehension about how it will hold I have had great luck thus far. Initially I used it for attaching patches and simple hems. From there I done some more elaborate alterations and lately I have done complete ground up builds for my Hollywood, Velcro leggings and canvas riggers pouches.
For a guy like myself with ideas but no heavy duty sewing machine and horrible sewing skills this has been very helpful stuff. A couple cautionary notes. It's far more expensive than thread. A tube of the stuff typically runs about $5.00 or $6.00. A tube was enough for me to make three pairs of leggings. This works out to about 12 feet of seams? When squeezing it into place I use a zig zag patterns much like thread might be applied. The stuff drys fairly quickly so do small sections at a time. Critical to a solid hold is to tightly clamp or use heavy weights holding you seam tightly in place while it drys. I use sections of thin flat plastic for both sides and powerful spring clamps. Separate fabric you don't want to bind with some kind of spacer (I use the plastic for this). The glue squeazes and into the fiber and if clamped firmly while still wet it holds very tightly. I have used it on cotton, polyester, canvas, poplin and leather. I have even used it to hold Velcro in place which obviously is a high stress application.
The glue has an initial drying time of 30 minutes but I leave it clamped at least 2 hours prior to continuing with a next stage of production. The instructions say to wait 24 hours before washing your garment and avoid dry cleaning. I have run hemmed items through washers and dryers with no ill effects. I have worn the leggings on hikes through the woods in wet conditions. My only separations have been where the items weren't tightly or evenly clamped.
For a guy like myself with ideas but no heavy duty sewing machine and horrible sewing skills this has been very helpful stuff. A couple cautionary notes. It's far more expensive than thread. A tube of the stuff typically runs about $5.00 or $6.00. A tube was enough for me to make three pairs of leggings. This works out to about 12 feet of seams? When squeezing it into place I use a zig zag patterns much like thread might be applied. The stuff drys fairly quickly so do small sections at a time. Critical to a solid hold is to tightly clamp or use heavy weights holding you seam tightly in place while it drys. I use sections of thin flat plastic for both sides and powerful spring clamps. Separate fabric you don't want to bind with some kind of spacer (I use the plastic for this). The glue squeazes and into the fiber and if clamped firmly while still wet it holds very tightly. I have used it on cotton, polyester, canvas, poplin and leather. I have even used it to hold Velcro in place which obviously is a high stress application.
The glue has an initial drying time of 30 minutes but I leave it clamped at least 2 hours prior to continuing with a next stage of production. The instructions say to wait 24 hours before washing your garment and avoid dry cleaning. I have run hemmed items through washers and dryers with no ill effects. I have worn the leggings on hikes through the woods in wet conditions. My only separations have been where the items weren't tightly or evenly clamped.