On Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:30:19 -0700 (PDT), Student
wrote:

On Sep 16, 3:56*pm, Larry Jaques
wrote:
On Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:04:10 -0700 (PDT), Student

wrote:
On Sep 16, 2:29*pm, "ChairMan" wrote:
,

hot glue isn't going to work on leather

Which glue would you recommend? Have you tried "Vinyl & Leather
Mender"? Is there a contact cement you'd recommend - a leather cement?

If you're wanting to continue using these chairs, nothing will work to
strengthen leather much. The leather has lost its resiliency and
cracked, ruining its strength forever. *You might get by with a thick
muslin or cordura backing, upholstered under the leather. It could
keep the leather from taking the weight.

Saddle soap and mink oil will help with the leather's flexibility and
life, but it's already dead. *RIP. *Glue it before cleaning and
oiling, though.

http://www.supergluecorp.com/choosingaproduct.htmlshows their Future
Glue as the one for leather to fabric. *I've never used a special
leather glue but Duco cement worked for a belt which was separating a
few decades ago. I think shoe goo might work, too, but lots of
pressure (enough to damage the tooling) might be necessary for a *good
bond with any glue. *G'luck.

Thanks! By "upholstered under the leather..." do you mean gluing both
sides of the crack to the muslin backing?

No, just removing the leather, trying to glue it together,
upholstering the leather area of the chair with cordura, then
reinstalling the leather over that. It would give the cracked leather
shell a structural strength it will never reattain.

But I suggest you look into carving a new seat yourself. Leather
tooling is fun once you learn how easily the proper moisture content
is for shaping!

--
"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country
against his government." --Edward Abbey