Renia Aquilim — The Complete Guide for Leathercraft
Most leatherworkers start with whatever glue is nearest. Usually something from a hardware shop, or a tube from a starter kit. It holds. Sometimes. And then one day it does not — mid-seam, layers sliding, and you realise the adhesive was always the weak point.
Aquilim is what we stock at Hideout Craft because it is what we use ourselves. It is a German-made, water-based contact adhesive range built for the professional leather and footwear trade. No heavy solvent smell. No fume extraction needed for brush application. Dries clear. Works properly.
There are four products in the range. Each one does a specific job. This guide explains what they are, which one to reach for, and how to use them properly on the bench.
Which Aquilim Do You Need?
Start here. Four products, four jobs.
Aquilim 330 — permanent bond, optimised for leather. A newer formulation developed specifically for leathercraft, with a long open time so you are not rushing. Well suited to belts, bags, wallets and straps.
Aquilim 315 — permanent bond, universal. The original benchmark adhesive in the Aquilim range. Suited to bonding leather to cork, foam, textile or other mixed materials.
Aquilim GL — bond then sew. The adhesive film stays flexible once dry, so your needle passes through cleanly and stitch channels stay open. Fix the parts together within 1–5 minutes of application, and multiple removal and correction of the bonded parts is possible. Use this when the seam is going through the bonded area.
Aquilim SG — positioning only. Apply to one surface only. Fully repositionable — peel apart and try again as many times as needed without losing tack. The stitch does the structural work. This just holds everything still while you get there. Particularly useful for linings, wallet interiors and complex panel assemblies.
Aquilim 330 — Built for Leathercraft
Aquilim 330 is the newest adhesive in the range — a formulation developed specifically for absorbent materials like leather. It has an open time of up to 8 hours.
Apply to both surfaces with a brush, roller or spreader. Keep the coat thin and even — a thick coat takes longer to dry and does not improve the bond. Renia gives approximately 20–40 minutes drying time; allow the adhesive film to dry fully. It turns transparent when ready. Then press the pieces firmly together and you are done. Bond strength increases and reaches its maximum after approximately 3–5 days, but the join is solid enough to work with well before that.
Drying can be accelerated with a hair dryer or heat lamp if you are working in a cold or damp workshop. Never use a flame.
| Detail | Aquilim 330 |
|---|---|
| Base | Water-based neoprene |
| Open time | Up to 8 hours |
| Drying time before joining | Approximately 20–40 minutes; join when transparent |
| Full bond strength | Approximately 3–5 days |
| Shelf life (unopened) | 12 months at 10–25°C |
| Thinning | Water |
| Storage | Above 4°C at all times — will not recover if frozen |
Suitable for leather, cork, felt, textiles, wood, rubber and most workshop materials. Not suitable for soft PVC.
Buy Renia Aquilim 330 at Hideout Craft
Aquilim 315 — The Proven All-Rounder
Aquilim 315 has been the go-to in the leather and footwear trade for years. Aquilim 315 is a proven universal contact adhesive for leather and mixed-material work.
Same working principle as 330: apply to both surfaces, allow to dry, press firmly together.
| Detail | Aquilim 315 |
|---|---|
| Base | Water-based neoprene |
| Open time | Up to 8 hours |
| Drying time before joining | Approximately 20–40 minutes; join when transparent |
| Full bond strength | Approximately 2–3 days |
| Shelf life (unopened) | 12 months at 10–25°C |
| Thinning | Water |
| Storage | Above 4°C at all times — will not recover if frozen |
Suitable for leather, cork, felt, textiles, wood, foam, cardboard, rubber and mixed workshop materials. Not suitable for soft PVC.
Buy Renia Aquilim 315 at Hideout Craft
Aquilim GL — Bond It, Then Sew Straight Through
Aquilim GL is designed for one specific job: bonding leather pieces that are going to be sewn through afterwards. The adhesive film stays flexible once dry. Your needle passes through cleanly without dragging or gumming up, and the stitch channel does not close over.
Aquilim GL is made for materials that will be stitched or sewn after bonding. Allow the adhesive to dry for approximately 1 minute, then fix the parts together within 1–5 minutes of application. Multiple removal and correction of the bonded parts is possible, and the work can be stitched immediately.
This is the right choice for belts, bags, straps and any assembly work where the seam is passing through the bonded area.
| Detail | Aquilim GL |
|---|---|
| Base | CR-based synthetic-rubber dispersion |
| Drying time | Approximately 1 minute |
| Fixing window | Within 1–5 minutes of application |
| Correction | Multiple removal and correction is possible |
| Stitching | Immediately after fixing |
| Shelf life (unopened) | Minimum 12 months at 20°C |
| Thinning | Water |
| Storage | Do not store or ship below 10°C — will not recover if frozen |
Buy Renia Aquilim GL at Hideout Craft
Aquilim SG — Hold It Still While You Sew
Aquilim SG is a different kind of adhesive. It is not a permanent bond — it is designed to hold leather pieces in accurate position so you can sew them without them shifting. The stitch does the structural work. The SG just keeps everything still while you get there.
Apply to one surface only, let it dry, then press the pieces together. If the alignment is not right, peel them apart and try again. It does not lose its tack. Reposition as many times as you need. Once you are happy, sew straight through — the needle passes cleanly and the stitch channels stay open.
Particularly useful for linings, wallet card slots, pocket panels, bag interiors, and any fiddly assembly work where getting the position right matters more than speed.
| Detail | Aquilim SG |
|---|---|
| Base | Solvent-free, water-based PVA |
| Application | One surface only |
| Time before joining | Within 1–5 minutes of application |
| Repositionable | Multiple removal and correction possible; film stays tacky |
| Needle behaviour | Passes through cleanly — stitch channels stay open |
| Shelf life (unopened) | Minimum 6 months at 20°C |
| Thinning | Water |
| Storage | Above 4°C at all times — will not recover if frozen |
Buy Renia Aquilim SG at Hideout Craft
How to Use Aquilim Properly — The Basics
The same principles apply across all four products.
Surface preparation. Clean surfaces bond better than contaminated ones. Water-based adhesives are less forgiving of contamination than solvent cements — this matters more here, not less. Remove dust, grease, wax and any finishing products from all surfaces before you apply anything. Compact materials like metal or hard plastic benefit from a light sanding to give the adhesive a key. Leather, textile and open-cell foam do not need roughening as long as the surface is clean.
Apply thin, even coats. A thick coat takes longer to dry, is harder to control, and does not improve bond strength. Thin and even is always better. The Renia silicone brush is the recommended applicator — it does not absorb adhesive, cleans easily, and does not deteriorate with use.
Wait until transparent for standard two-sided application. With Aquilim 330 and 315, allow the adhesive on both surfaces to turn transparent before joining. Follow the separate product instructions if using the one-sided flesh-to-flesh method.
Press firmly. Once the adhesive is dry, bring the pieces together and press firmly — by hand, with a roller, or with an arbor press. Pay particular attention to edges and corners. Roll from the centre outwards on larger surfaces to avoid air pockets.
Cold workshops. All Aquilim products perform best at room temperature. In cold conditions the adhesive thickens, dries slower, and bond formation can be affected. If the adhesive has been stored somewhere cold, bring it to room temperature before use. A warm water bath is fine. Never use a direct heat source on the container.
Switching from solvent cement. If you are moving from a traditional solvent contact cement to Aquilim, give yourself a session on test pieces first. The drying behaviour and bond formation feel different from solvent adhesives. Surface prep becomes more critical. Once you have adjusted your technique the results are comparable or better — but the adjustment is real and worth taking seriously before working on a finished piece.
Storage — The One Rule You Cannot Ignore
Aquilim 330, 315 and SG must be stored above 4°C at all times. Aquilim GL has a higher minimum — do not store or ship it below 10°C. This applies to storage and transport for all four products. Freezing destroys the emulsion — a frozen Aquilim product cannot be recovered and must be discarded. Do not leave Aquilim in an unheated garage, outbuilding, or vehicle in winter.
Keep containers tightly closed when not in use. Exposure to air causes skinning on the surface. If this happens, skim it off carefully before use — do not mix it back in.
| Product | Shelf life (unopened) | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Aquilim 330 | 12 months | 10–25°C (above 4°C minimum) |
| Aquilim 315 | 12 months | 10–25°C (above 4°C minimum) |
| Aquilim GL | Minimum 12 months | 20°C recommended (above 10°C minimum) |
| Aquilim SG | Minimum 6 months | 20°C recommended (above 4°C minimum) |
Shop the Renia Aquilim Range
Browse the full Aquilim range | Renia Aquilim 330 | Renia Aquilim 315 | Renia Aquilim GL | Renia Aquilim SG | Aquilim Glue Brush
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Aquilim 330 and 315?
Both are permanent water-based contact adhesives, applied to both surfaces. Aquilim 330 is the newer formulation, developed specifically for leathercraft and absorbent materials like leather. Aquilim 315 is the original benchmark, a universal adhesive for leather and mixed materials such as foam, cork and textile.
Is Aquilim safe to use indoors?
Yes. All four Aquilim adhesives are water-based and free of organic solvents. No VOC concerns, no flammability hazard, no fume extraction needed for brush or roller application. Normal workshop hygiene applies — wash hands after use, avoid eye contact, keep containers closed when not in use. Spray application does require adequate ventilation.
What if my Aquilim gets frozen?
Discard it. Freezing destroys the emulsion and the adhesive cannot be recovered. Store Aquilim 330, 315 and SG above 4°C at all times; Aquilim GL should not be stored or shipped below 10°C. This applies to transport and delivery as well as storage.
Can I thin Aquilim?
Yes — all four products can be thinned with water. Add gradually and mix thoroughly. Fresh product from a new container should not need thinning under normal conditions.
What brush should I use?
Renia’s own silicone brush is the recommended applicator for the Aquilim range. The silicone construction means it does not absorb adhesive, cleans easily, and does not deteriorate with use. We stock it alongside the Aquilim range.
Do I need to roughen leather before gluing?
For flesh-to-flesh leather bonding, no preparation is needed as long as the surface is clean and free of wax, oil and finishing products. For grain side surfaces, a light roughening helps the adhesive key in. Compact materials like metal or hard plastic should always be sanded before application.
Which Aquilim should I use if I’m sewing through the glued area?
Aquilim GL is designed specifically for bond-then-sew work. The adhesive film stays flexible so the needle passes through cleanly and stitch channels stay open. If you need full repositionability before sewing, choose Aquilim SG.
Not sure which product is right for your project?
Contact us at sales@hideoutcraft.co.uk — we use these adhesives on the bench and can give you a straight answer.