Canvas / fabric glue

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obmij

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Knowledgeable and learned gentlemen

Which is the best glue to stick fabric to fabric, permanently?

External use. Some flexibility required.

With greatest regards

Your correspondent.
 
Thread?

Seriously, and not being sarcastic, I doubt any glue will create a permanent join. I have often wished it were not so.
 
Copydex is surprisingly good. I used to use it to stick my Son's Cub badges on and they not only survived many how washes, but were really hard to get off cleanly when he wanted to save them.
 
We used gorilla glue to fix fabric to our boat cabin, it's activated by water, and really sticks well.

Alan
 
There have been numerous threads describing the use of 3M 5200 and Sika 291. Some sailmakers suggest this to cruisers for field repair. It is permanent, and if the over lap is more than 1.5 inches, it is stronger than stitching (I've pull-tested samples for publication).

Also consider Dr. Sails, which is purpose-marketed for this purpose.

And there are many other solutions. It's not that difficult. IF the fabric is weak it can be much better than sewing. Heck, there are glued sails.
 
Happy Dayz said:
We used gorilla glue to fix fabric to our boat cabin, it's activated by water, and really sticks well.

Alan
Click to expand...

Any polyurethane based waterproof glues will stick to fabric at I can testify with all the shorts and tee shirts I have damaged by getting polyurethane wood glue on them. The only way to remove the glue is to cut it off which cuts the fabric fibres.
 
Thanks for the input guys.

8 responses and 8 different suggestions! I had hoped there was a 'go to' glue for external fabric use - but it looks like it is a case of 'see what sticks'

lol

Cheers
 
Actually, it is a case of many things work well. Those I have tested are:
* contact cement, including inflatable cements
* many high strength polyurethane sealants (3M 5200, Sika 291. Locktit PL S40 or Marine, ....)
* Dr. Sails
* West Systems G-Flex (but not non-flexible epoxies)

If you were more specific about the application that would help.
 
Rogershaw said:
Any polyurethane based waterproof glues will stick to fabric at I can testify with all the shorts and tee shirts I have damaged by getting polyurethane wood glue on them. The only way to remove the glue is to cut it off which cuts the fabric fibres.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, we have used evostike to good effect but I can't take the fumes due an allergic reaction. Gorilla is far more pleasant to use, they claim.'strongest known to man' - but not a thing about females ��

Alan
 
thinwater said:
What is PVA? Around here that is polyvinyl alcohol and is used as a mold release.
Click to expand...

It is a generic term that is used for a family of adhesives that are based on Polyvinyl acetate (C4H6O2)n

Also known as "wood glue", "white glue" as well as various trade names including "Elmer's Glue-all", "Parfix PVA Wood Glue" and others. Although some are slightly modified for tackiness, grab, etc., they are all based on polyvinyl acetate.

Although the adhesive is not "waterproof" it does stand up quite well to exposure although it will not withstand continuous immersion. Its use in boatbuilding should be restricted to some interior use on low-budget boats.
 
Got it, thought of it as soon as I walked out of the room. Not something I consider in a marine context.

Soak through is always a challenge. If you don't allow for it, it is easy to end up with a glue-starved joint. It is less of a problem with contact cements (quick dry) and sealants (viscous).
 
The problem with quick-dry contact cements is their poor resistance to UV light of which we have too much in our sunlight (Malta, Central Mediterranean).
 
Well I also may have learnt something for which thanks. I have looked at some of the products suggested, which, with the exception of Dr. Sails, dont seem to be recommended for fabrics (but I may have missed it). It will be interesting to hear how the OP gets on. With apologies for my cynicism I do worry that any glue will not flex in the way thread does and will either create an edge which will abrade quickly or a "slab" of cloth. Moreover some of the products are expensive and nor would I have thought ideal for anything other than a small repair.

While sailmakers do "weld" sails you cant help feeling there is a reason on coventional cloth they prefer thread, because having done a fair amount of machine stitching, you can imagine a glued seem would be wonderful solution both in terms of labour cost and ease of "construction".

It will be interesting to hear of your experience but if the cloth is in good condition and it is a small repair I still feel a good old kneedle, thread and sailmakers palm is the answer and will not take very long. If it is a more substantial repair then a sailmaker would seem a better investment than glue that might not prove a permanent solution.
 
Quick-dry contact cement and UV . Several cruisers have reported >5 years on sail repair, though perhaps they were covered most of the time. Canvas is different and I expect you are right.

Dr. Sail on canvas. I've tested that, strong as hell. Again, long term UV is a question.

As for flex and chafe, I've used polyunsaturate sealants for many long-term canvas repairs, specifically reinforcing areas for snaps and grommets. It lasts as long as the cover.

I've interviewed several eminent sailmakers re. adhesives for repairs. While sewing in the gold standard, all agreed that adhesives can be the right answer, specifically for old cloth. But it does have a learning curve, just like sewing.
 
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