I have to share this one with you guys and I am sure you will enjoy it!
One of my readers, Felix Katz, send me two links to his video tutorials on how to attach applications to latex clothing. It is a step by step tutorial video and easy to understand.
What could be done differently?
The only thing what I would advise you to do differently is the step where he applies the glue to the entire surface of the latex.
It is not necessary to apply the rubber cement on both latex surfaces if it is only for applications. It is enough if you apply it to the surface of the application.
The parts of the latex where you applied the glue to and don’t have any applications on will always be kind of dull. It will be sticky and dust and dirt will easily stick and show on it, especially if it is white latex.
How to do it.
What you need to do to make the application bond properly to the latex is to prepare everything right, that means a good wipe with your cleaner. And that should do the whole job for you.
The reason why that is enough, lays simply in the chemistry of rubber and rubber cement. To make it short: both consist of the same material, polymers and through natures small wonders they stick to each other through cohesion.
Thanks a lot for sharing that with us Felix. Keep up your work.
Cheers,
Kitty
April 7th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Excellent tutorial, thank you Felix for creating it and thank you Kitty for showing it!
I have one question regarding applications though, is there any glue you can use that makes it possible to remove the application once you get bored of it?
I’m thinking switching different applications on the same garment. Perhaps some kind of water based glue?
Regards,
John
April 8th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Thanks for posting these videos.
I have a tip for removing glue from the garment where you don’t want it to be. If you want to avoid the glue dulling an area where there is no applique. Just after you have applied the applique, sprinkle talc on the area you do not want glue and then wipe away with your cleaner/thinner. Cleans away nicely in my experience.
Kitty, I take your point about only needing to glue to one part of the applique and have done so out of necessity on intricate appliques. Where possible I always try to apply glue to both sides just for safety’s sake.
April 8th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
hmm that is the first time I hear that question. I could not come up with anything that could do that for you. A glue that bonds the two parts securely together and is easy to remove afterwards….just like the poster strip adhesives…I do not think that is easy to find, but maybe some of the others have a solution for that.
April 8th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
@John: I don’t think you will find glue that can be removed without damaging the latex, as glueing latex is not really gluing but (physically spoken) welding. On the other hand I don’t know everything
Perhaps you can avoid that problem by using press buttons, hook-and-loop tape or a zip to apply removeable applications. If planned well, I’m sure that can look nice.
April 9th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
@ john: Its possible. Just do not use any glue at all. If the application shall not stay forever on your garment (f.e. a few evenings) its best just to clean both, garment and application, deeply with washing-benzin. With this technique thew latex will stick together very well, but you are still able to remove it.
This will work at least for some weeks. The longer it stick, the higher the risk that it will stick permanently .
Another solution ist to use latex milk instead of rubber cement and NOT to prepare the latex with washing-benzin. As obove you should be able to remove the app. weeks or even month later. All the latex will be on the rough side of your app. and (nearly) nothing on your garment.
April 10th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
@John Thanks, glad you like the video! As everyone else has said — latex will stick to itself if it’s very very clean. It will weld together over time, but it might be OK for a week or two. And truth be told, usually we have a harder time making stuff stick permanently
I’ve had applique come apart completely for no readily apparent reason.
@Gia I’ll try your tip with the talc. Usually I try to keep thinner well away from new bonds.
Everyone, is there something you’d like to see in another video?
April 12th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Today I had a try and removed a 1,5 years old application on a black latex garment without any remains. The app was glued with liquid rubber on the garment and therefore not very clean (I din’d worked with “glorious” rubber cement that time yet). So it was a good opportunity for a try.
You just have to be a bit patient und not too hasty.
April 15th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Hi
I would like to know what kind of sticky labels do you use ?
Thanks a lot for the tutorial.
P.luc
April 16th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Thank you so much for this brilliant tutorial. Now I know how to add some more speciality to my self made garments!
Greetings from Hannover
LuQ
April 17th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
@Pierre-Luc I use Avery-Zweckform Stick&Lift, part number L4735REV.
I’m almost sure that there must be specialized stuff in art supplies etc. but these I can get in every stationary store, and I can just feed them to my laser printer without worries.
April 23rd, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Thank you felix
April 27th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
@Gia: I tested your advise about sprinkling talkum on the not needed glue and to wipe it away.
It didn’t work, the glue and the talkum mixed and when I wiped it, it just smeared over the Latex. Now the Latex is dull everywhere I wiped and in addition it has white spots from the glued-on Talkum.
Do you have any idea what I did wrong?
April 30th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Great tutorial, I have been wondering how to do this and now my questions have been answered! Thank you so much for posting this Kitty and Felix for filming this video.
May 17th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Hi Kitty. I am slightly confused about different types of glue for latex and which ones should I use. I know there’s solvent based and amonia based. Which ones r better to glue the zipper and which one should I use for the seams of 0.4 latex thickness?
Thank you
June 14th, 2010 at %I:%M %p
Hi there! Thanks for putting up this site, it’s giving so many people a chance to make things for themselves and other people. I’m loving making all my stuff.
I was however, wondering if you had any pointers on folding hems at the edges of garments, just to secure them. I always do this with my garments but since I push them down with my fingers, the end result can look a tad ‘bumpy’; not with the air bubbles, but just from pressing my finger onto it again and again in a line. Any ideas on how I can smooth out hems a little better? Thanks! 
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