smoking ca (super) glue?

[lesken2011]

I designated today to build up the handle on my hbi trade bow. Since I was going to build up the leather in layers, I figured I would need a good bit of thin ca glue so I ordered some 4 oz bottles of stick fast online. It was about 1/2 the price of TB thin ca glue. Before I started, I cleaned the ipe handle with alcohol and thought I let it dry. I applied glue to the leather and the wood to do the initial glue up. The leather started smoking and it curled up. The fumes were pretty rough. I never had super glue smoke before. I did an online search and found that this was pretty common. Should I use a different glue to put the first piece of leather next to the wood like barge cement or something? Then saturate it with the ca glue for the next layer?

[Gordon]

I've had this happen quite a bit but not all the time - so I think it is related to the way the leather was tanned. Now a days I use either thick super glue or barge cement to glue leather to wood.

[lesken2011]

Thanks, Gordon. You're a life saver!!

[lesken2011]

I just put a new piece of leather next to the wood with gorilla super glue (thicker). Once it dries, I'll saturate the leather with the thin glue and see if it holds. I couldn't wait on the barge cement to dry....too anxious!!

[killir duck]

try thread-lock super glue gel

[bubby]

i use the spray adhesive, spray it on wait till tacky then clamp between two board's
, Bub

[soy]

Just work quick super glue and leather are like a match and a firecracker fuse ...fast and smoky
Ans it sets hard so get it in place quick and as you know the fumes are STRONG

[ryddragyn]

There was a video a few years ago of some rocket scientists who poured hydrogen peroxide-based fuel on leather, and it not only smoked, it exploded.

Exothermic reactions are fun.

I've used cyanoacrylate on untanned leather and never had any smoking.

[lesken2011]

Thanks, yall. I was trying to do my build up like Dave Bulla's handle build-a-long on TG. His apparently did not smoke either, or at least he didn't mention it. I used Gordon's advice and used the thicker super glue to glue the handle to the wood, then, when it was dry saturated it with the thinner glue. (The leather likes to curl up when it smokes) I Finally got it rasped and sanded to final shape yesterday afternoon. I tried different color leathers hoping for a multi layered wood look effect, but the colors change when saturated and the color combination now looks kinda ugly. Well, that's what leather dye is for, I guess. Hopefully I'll have it ready to put tip overlays on later today. Thanks for all the help!!

[George Tsoukalas]

For leather to wood handles  use a waterproof wood glue. Jawge