Why ONE PLUS ONE Glue Is My New Favourite for Making Wallets

A while back I wrote about which glue to use - PVA, Evostick contact adhesive or Fiebing's Leathercraft Cement. Since then a new one has found its way onto my bench, and it's quickly become my favourite for wallets: ONE PLUS ONE Water-Based Pro Adhesive.

What Is ONE PLUS ONE Glue?

ONE PLUS ONE is a small brand from Taiwan, started in 2020, that makes water-based adhesives specifically for leathercraft. It's designed for leather-to-leather bonding, edge folding and trims - exactly the sort of work that goes into a wallet. It comes in bottles and in refillable applicator pens with 10mm, 15mm and 30mm tips, and here in the UK you can pick it up from J.H. Leather.

Why It's Won Me Over for Wallets

No Solvent Fumes

Fiebing's and Evostick both do a great job, but they're solvent-based, and that means opening the shed door in the middle of winter. ONE PLUS ONE is water-based and low odour, so I can glue up a batch of card holders without needing to clear the room afterwards.

The Applicator Pens

This is the bit that really sold it to me. On a wallet you're gluing narrow strips along the edges of pockets and linings - you want glue right up to the stitch line and nowhere else. The pen tips lay down a neat, even line, so there's no brush, no pot drying out on the bench and far less glue squeezing out onto the grain side. The 10mm tip is just right for card slot edges.

Quick to Tack, Flexible When Dry

It dries clear in a couple of minutes, so I'm not waiting around between gluing and pressing pieces together. Once it's set it stays flexible, which matters on a wallet - a bifold gets folded thousands of times, and a glue line that goes brittle will crack and show.

Cleaner Edges

Less squeeze-out means cleaner edges going into bevelling and burnishing. Any glue that does creep out is easier to deal with than a rubber cement that's skinned over.

How I Use It on a Wallet (My Mealstrom Bifold)

i: Rough up the flesh side lightly where the glue line will go
ii: Run a thin line along the edge with the pen, staying just inside the stitch line
iii: Let it go tacky - give it a minute or two
iv: Line up the pieces and press them firmly together (a roller or a few minutes under weight helps)
v: Mark and punch your stitching holes, then saddle stitch as normal

Remember the glue is there to hold everything in line while you stitch - the stitching is what holds a wallet together for years. That's true whichever adhesive you use.

Where It Fits Alongside My Other Glues

I haven't thrown the others out. Evostick still gets used when I'm bonding leather to something that isn't leather, and PVA is still handy for edge work. But for the pockets and linings on my wallets and card holders like the Halligan, ONE PLUS ONE is now the one I reach for first.

My Thoughts

If you're making small leather goods at home, especially somewhere without great ventilation, it's well worth a try. As always, test it on scrap leather first and see how it suits the way you work.

If you're making belts as well as wallets, have a look at my laser-cut belt templates for a clean, consistent strap point every time.

Have you tried ONE PLUS ONE, or is there another glue you swear by? Drop me a note in the comments - I'd love to hear what's on your bench.