Thread: Leather top desk help

Would you beleive I came to post the exact same thing about leather inserts for a desk.

Only I am after info for any one in Melbourne who actualy does it.

Al

I've replaces a couple of them in desks over the years, so I've done it though I don't consider myself an expert. It happens that the place we get the leather from also supplies the glue with it, so I haven't had to worry about that. It reminds me alot of the old wallpaper paste (before prepasted wallpaper) in both texture and color. The leather is prestained and finished, so it's just sticking it down. I apply the glue with a roller to the desk, roll the leather down with a J roller working from the center out to the edges (keep it clean otherwise you'll have stains on the leather) that keep it under pressure while it dries.

Keep the glue even, or it will be hard to get a flat surface on the leather. Also insure that you have good glue coverage under the leather.

That's all I've done and have not had any returns. Hope that helps.

Leather stretches when wet and shrinks as it dries, so if you are going to use a waterbased glue you have to make some allowances at the edges for what is going to happen to it!

I have done a couple of vinyl (save the cows!!) inserts. (Why is it that the animal liberation people are happy to make examples of rich women in fur coats but leave the bikies wearing leather jackets alone?).

Anyway, two different methods:

One was effectively a whole piece of ply that inserted into the surround, and the veneer was wrapped down the sides.

Second had a groove routed at the timber/vinyl junction and the vinyl was fixed exactly as per fitting a flyscreen to a frame using a 1/8" plastic bead.

In both cases we used contact adhesive thinned heaps and sprayed (goes a bit like cobwebs). If you stretch the material you don't have to rely on the adhesive anyway .

Having said all of that, it's probably best to do it the way the guys who do it for a living do it~!!

Cheers,

P

Can you give me a name for the type of adhesive to use?

hcbhp - wat is a j roller?

gordo

Anyone?

Well I used ordinary everyday "Bear" brand contact adhesive thinned to spraying consistency, but I thought you were looking for proper stuff! :eek:

Good Luck,

P

Laminex (and others) make a sprayable grade contact - try cabinetmaker's supply houses. A "J" roller is a hand held rubber roller with a steel handle that is sort of shaped like a "J" (but not very much like one). You use both hands to press down on it whilst rolling it over the job.

Mick