Aquilim is Renia’s range of water-based contact adhesives. Developed in Germany for the professional leather and footwear trade, the range covers every bonding scenario you will encounter in leatherwork — from permanent assembly bonds through to fully repositionable positioning glues.
Water-based means no organic solvents, no VOC concerns, and no fume extraction required for brush application. The adhesive film dries clear. Comfortable for workshop and home use. All four Aquilim products are completely free of organic solvents.
Aquilim 330 — permanent contact adhesive, optimised for leather. Fastest bond, strongest hold on absorbent materials.
Aquilim 315 — permanent contact adhesive, universal. Broadest material compatibility.
Aquilim GL — semi-permanent adhesive for bond-then-sew work.
Aquilim SG — non-permanent positioning adhesive. Fully repositionable, one-side application.
Choosing the Right Aquilim for Your Project
Bonding leather to leather, leather to lining, permanent bond: Use Aquilim 330. Faster grip on leather than 315, stronger final bond, generous working time. Primary recommendation for most leatherwork.
Bonding mixed materials — leather to cork, foam, cardboard: Use Aquilim 315. Handles a wider range of material combinations than 330. The more versatile choice when you work across different material types regularly.
Bonding pieces that will be stitched afterwards: Use Aquilim GL. The adhesive film stays flexible once dry — needle passes through cleanly, stitch channels stay open. Bond repositionable for up to 60 minutes, then permanent.
Positioning pieces precisely before stitching: Use Aquilim SG. One-side application, fully repositionable. Peel apart and try again as many times as needed. The bond never fully cures — the stitching does the structural work.
Aquilim 330 — Water-Based Contact Adhesive
What it is
The newest and most advanced adhesive in the Aquilim range — an improved formula built on the 315 base, developed specifically for faster bond build-up on absorbent materials like leather. Bonds faster, holds stronger, and gives more working time than 315 on leather.
On the bench
Apply to both surfaces, allow to dry until transparent (30–60 min), then press firmly together. Bond forms immediately on contact once dry. Strength builds over the following hours and reaches full strength at 48 hours.
Leather-to-leather shortcut: flesh side to flesh side, apply to one surface only and press the other piece directly into the wet adhesive — no waiting. The leather fibres are absorbent enough to allow immediate penetration and bond. Confirmed by Renia directly. Only works flesh-to-flesh — grain-to-anything requires standard two-sided application.
Open time: up to 8 hours. Drying time: 30–60 min (transparent = ready to join). Full cure: 48 hours. Apply thin, even coats by brush, roller or spreader. Firm hand press or roller. 1 bar per 100cm² if pressing mechanically. Store above 4°C — frost destroys the emulsion permanently. Suitable materials: leather, cork, foam, rubber, textiles, wood, ABS. Not soft PVC.
Aquilim 315 — Water-Based Contact Adhesive
What it is
The original benchmark adhesive in the Aquilim range. A universal water-based contact adhesive with a long track record across leatherwork, footwear, bag making, clothing and orthopaedic work. = standard medium viscosity, suited to brush and roller application.
On the bench
Same working principle as 330: apply to both surfaces, allow to dry, join under pressure. Main practical difference from 330 is that 315 bonds slightly slower on leather — sometimes useful when you need a little more time to position pieces before they commit.
One-sided wet application (compact + absorbent combinations): apply to the compact side only and immediately press the absorbent material (leather, textile, open-cell foam) onto the wet adhesive. Allow several hours drying and curing time after joining.
Open time: up to 8 hours. Drying time: 10–20 min on compact materials; 2–3 min on leather. Full cure: 48 hours. Suitable materials: leather, cork, EVA, PU sheets, foam, cardboard, textiles, felt, wood. Not PE/PP in standard application, not soft PVC.
Aquilim GL — Water-Based Stitching Adhesive
What it is
A semi-permanent contact adhesive on a polychloroprene base, designed specifically for leather goods that will be stitched after bonding. The key property: the adhesive film stays highly elastic once dry rather than setting hard. The needle passes through cleanly without gumming, and stitch channels do not close over.
Bond-then-sew workflow
Apply to both surfaces. Allow to dry until transparent (10–20 min on compact, 2–3 min on leather). Press pieces together firmly. Sewing is possible 30–60 minutes after joining — and often immediately in practice. Needle passes cleanly, thread does not pick up adhesive residue, stitch channels remain open for hand and machine stitching.
Repositioning window: once joined, the bond can be opened and adjusted — becomes permanent after 60 minutes. More forgiving than 330 or 315 during that window.
Suitable uses: belts, bags, wallets, straps, shoe uppers — any leather assembly that will be stitched. Store above 4°C. Minimum shelf life 6 months at 20°C. Materials: leather, rubber, EVA, PU sheets, cork, plastazote, textiles.
Aquilim SG — Water-Based Positioning Adhesive
What it is
A non-permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive on a PVA base. Fundamentally different from the other three Aquilim adhesives — it does not cure to a permanent bond. It holds pieces in precise position for sewing and remains repositionable indefinitely. Designed for assembly work where getting position exactly right matters more than bond strength, because the stitching provides the structural integrity.
One-side application
Apply to one surface only — the more absorbent or rougher side. For leather-to-lining work, apply to the leather flesh side, not the smooth lining. Allow to dry until transparent (5–15 min, 2–3 min on leather). Press together firmly.
Fully repositionable: peel apart and reposition as many times as needed. The adhesive retains its tack and does not lose grip through repeated repositioning. Once satisfied with the position, proceed to sewing. Sewing is possible immediately after joining — needle passes cleanly, stitch channels stay open.
When to use SG over GL: when you need to reposition multiple times, when the stitching is doing the structural work, or when working with linings, wallet interiors, card slots or delicate panels where over-bonding would cause problems. Store above 4°C. Minimum shelf life 6 months at 20°C.
General Application Principles
Surface preparation
Water-based adhesives are less forgiving of contamination than solvents. Remove dust, grease and finishing products from all surfaces before applying. Sand or rough compact materials (metal, hard plastic, smooth sole materials) to provide a key. Leather, textiles and open-cell foams do not need preparation as long as the surface is clean and free of fats, waxes and release agents.
Application thickness
Apply thin, even coats. A thin coat dries faster, gives better control, and bonds as well or better than a thick one. Heavy application does not improve bond strength — it increases drying time, makes the bond line visible and adds unnecessary bulk. Renia’s silicone brush is recommended for the Aquilim range: it does not absorb the adhesive, cleans easily, and does not deteriorate with use.
Joining and pressing
Once dry, join the pieces firmly. Press by hand, roll with a roller, or use an arbor press. Ensure even pressure across the full bonded area — edges and corners especially. 1 bar per 100cm² if using a mechanical press. For larger surfaces, roll from the centre outwards to avoid air pockets.
Switching from solvent adhesives
If you are moving from a traditional solvent contact cement to the Aquilim range, give yourself a session on test pieces first. The drying behaviour, open time and bond formation feel different from solvent adhesives. Surface prep becomes more critical. Renia acknowledges this directly in their technical literature — the adjustment is real and worth taking seriously. Results once adjusted are comparable or better.
Storage and Shelf Life
All Aquilim products must be stored above 4°C at all times — this applies to storage and transport. Freezing destroys the emulsion permanently. A frozen Aquilim product cannot be recovered and must be discarded. Do not store in unheated outbuildings, garages or vehicles in winter.
Keep containers tightly closed when not in use. Exposure to air causes skinning on the surface — skim carefully before use if it occurs, do not mix it back in. All Aquilim products can be thinned with water if needed — add gradually, mix thoroughly.
Shelf life — Aquilim 330 and 315: 12 months unopened at 10–25°C. Aquilim GL and SG: minimum 6 months at 20°C.
Safety
All four Aquilim adhesives are free of organic solvents. No VOC concerns, no flammability hazard, no fume extraction required for brush or roller application. Standard workshop hygiene applies — wash hands after use, avoid eye contact, keep containers closed when not in use. Spray application requires adequate ventilation. Full safety data sheets are available on request from Hideout Craft.
Technical Data Sheets
Technical data sheets for all stocked Aquilim products are available to download as PDF. These cover application methods, material compatibility, working temperatures, storage requirements and product specifications.
- Renia Aquilim 330 — Technical Data Sheet (PDF)
- Renia Aquilim 315 — Technical Data Sheet (PDF)
- Renia Aquilim GL — Technical Data Sheet (PDF)
- Renia Aquilim SG — Technical Data Sheet (PDF)
Safety data sheets are available on request at sales@hideoutcraft.co.uk.
Shop Renia Aquilim at Hideout Craft
Hideout Craft stocks the full Aquilim range from UK stock. Questions about which Aquilim adhesive is right for your project? Contact us at sales@hideoutcraft.co.uk.
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