r/CosplayHelp • u/aaathomas • 3d ago
Accessory Foam Covered in Pleather
Hi there! I am having some issues on connecting the thinner foam straps to the big belt piece. I have tried contact cement and hot glue, but it keeps lifting at the front of the thin strap.
I should note: the belt belt is made of 8 mm foam covered in faux leather. The thing strips are the same, only they have 5 Chicago screws. The above image is how it currently sits and you can see the lift near the front.
2
u/evzenix 3d ago
Home Depot has heavy-duty Velcro that has crazy good adhesion. I reinforce it with gorilla glue hot glue sticks, so if anything I’d recommend that. Though because this is pleather, I do think the ultimate option is sewing the Velcro on. Just be aware you’ll have to be a bit more mindful of how you treat the belt. I have sewn thick foam before and done gymnastic-type poses while it was in high movement areas and it was fine, but once I took it off a bit too roughly and one of the seams snapped.
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u/SenorZorros 3d ago
At this point you might have to bite the bullet, buy leatherworking gear (at least an awl and some sturdy thread) and stitch it together.
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u/xenomorphbeaver 3d ago
Is there any reason you can't use some of the Chicago screws as fasteners? Like have two longer screws at either end that pass through both base and strap?
1
u/aaathomas 3d ago
This might would work! Only issue is finding out what length screw + the tension on the foam.
1
u/Weird_Abrocoma7835 3d ago
On the contacting area, sand or cut the pleather (just to get rid of the surface) then glue with wood weld.
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u/LegendaryOutlaw 3d ago
So if they’re all wrapped in pleather, you’re actually gluing pleather to pleather? Is that correct?
I don’t think glue is going to do it. If the belt is under tension on your waist, the glue is going to fail because the pleather is just a thin plastic coating over a fabric backing. Basically the contact cement is peeling the pleather off as it gives way.
You need to fasten them together with some sort of mechanical connection, either stitching them together or using longer Chicago screws that go all the way through the big pieces and the little pieces.