# Watch strap glue? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2026, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373 "2026-08-17T03:46:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/1 "2026-08-17T03:46:33Z")
The little strip that holds the loose end of my watch strap broke. I tried using cyanoacrylate, but it didn’t last long. Right now, I have a piece of cellophane tape holding it. As I would rather not spend $118 on a new strap, what kind of glue should I use to secure this little loop? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/2 "2026-08-17T03:50:01Z")
A picture would help or a better description of the material. You should be able to find a replacement strap for under $20 though. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/3 "2026-08-17T03:51:08Z")
[Gorilla glue](https://gorillatough.com/) (original)? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/4 "2026-08-17T03:55:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > You should be able to find a replacement strap for under $20 though. [An original strap](https://www.watchbandexpert.com/products/hamilton-ventura-h244110-h244112-h244510-black-leather-band?srsltid=AfmBOoo81mv9JRGKBwlfCLEwcfgiiicI6kcEuPN4ymWa8z1Qod7Vxxg5) costs $118 on [eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/113977286811). > [@DesertDog](#): > > [Gorilla glue](https://gorillatough.com/) (original)? I was wondering if original (orange) Gorilla Glue might work. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/5 "2026-08-17T04:14:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I was wondering if original (orange) Gorilla Glue might work. No. I bought a container of Gorilla Glue a few months ago thinking that it was just a strong glue, but it is actually an expanding plastic foam. It should be just about supremely unsuitable for fixing your watch band. (As it would have been for what I bought it for.) I ended up using the Gorilla Glue to reinforce a cracked planter. That yellow glob is some of the expanded “glue”. [![](https://i.ibb.co/gFWmdkpK/gg.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/gFWmdkpK/gg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/6 "2026-08-17T04:28:09Z")
I fixed the watch band of my son with clear gorilla glue. Toothpick. Small glob of glue. Placed the little strap in the glob. Two small pieces of aluminum foil. Sandwich the band between. Make sure everything is in the right place. Weight it. We used a book and a can of beans. Next day it was fixed. I figure it would last a day or two. Nope. That was last year. It doesn’t say it’s for leather, and it doesn’t puff up like the original. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/7 "2026-08-17T05:06:06Z")
CA is no good for this sort of thing - it’s brittle. You want something flexible and waterproof. A contact adhesive, or a urethane glue would be good. Gorilla glue is a urethane glue. Urethane glues do tend to foam as they set - which means you need to clamp the parts tight to stop the foaming action pushing the parts apart till the glue is set. I’d use a contact adhesive. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/8 "2026-08-17T05:10:05Z")
The critical info here (which you failed to give) is what material this watch band is made of. That will determine the type of adhesive that will properly work to glue it. P.S. It’s 2026. Who wears a wristwatch any more? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/9 "2026-08-17T05:19:40Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > The critical info here (which you failed to give) is what material this watch band is made of Fourth post. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/10 "2026-08-17T06:25:51Z")
Gloss finished leather is not a great candidate for glueing. The finish being the problem, not the uderlying leather. But @Princhester nailed the essentials: a glue that comes out goopy & hardens to a flexible joint of which urethane is the most common. As **Beck** said clamping is the other magic trick. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/11 "2026-08-17T06:28:49Z")
Which is why you’d scuff the area to glue first with sandpaper. I should have said that. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/12 "2026-08-17T07:03:31Z")
As the strap is leather, use leather or shoe glue. This is one of the best: > **[Amazon.com: StrongBond Shoe Glue, 100ML Professional Grade Super Glue for Shoes...](https://www.amazon.com/StrongBond-Professional-Grade-Leather-Repairs/dp/B0G2JMB7R9)** > > Amazon.com: StrongBond Shoe Glue, 100ML Professional Grade Super Glue for Shoes Boots Leather Repairs Permanent, Flexible Waterproof Clear Drying Formula Fast Setting Adhesive for Insoles, Soles, Heels & More : Industrial & Scientific Gorilla Glue is never the best choice for anything. It is a crap glue apparently with brilliant marketing. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/13 "2026-08-17T09:07:22Z")
If you insist on the DIY route, try Shoe Goo. I’m so sloppy with that kind of thing, though, so I would take the strap to a cobbler to get it done. More expensive than a tube of Shoe Goo, but probably better results. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/14 "2026-08-17T09:49:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Gorilla Glue is never the best choice for anything. It is a crap glue apparently with brilliant marketing I disagree. I’ve used it on several things and it was awesome. YMMV I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/15 "2026-08-17T12:15:10Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > try Shoe Goo. I think there’s some in a cupboard. I’ll have to look. > [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > P.S. It’s 2026. Who wears a wristwatch any more? You know, the cool kids call them ‘clock bracelets’. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/16 "2026-08-17T12:31:42Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > No. I bought a container of Gorilla Glue a few months ago thinking that it was just a strong glue, but it is actually an expanding plastic foam. It should be just about supremely unsuitable for fixing your watch band. (As it would have been for what I bought it for.) Gorilla Glue is a specific product, the expanding foam glue you describe. It’s also, now, a brand name for a wide variety of different glues, of basically every sort that glue comes in. Probably causes some confusion when someone wants the original, foaming stuff for some project for which that’s the right tool for the job (and there are some jobs for which that is the right tool), and sends a lackey off to the hardware store who then picks up an ordinary cyanoacrylate, or a rubberized sealer, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/17 "2026-08-17T12:33:28Z")
Have you considered sewing the band back together? Sewing leather generally requires the use of an awl, but it works well. There are heavy-duty threads that would be good for this project, too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/18 "2026-08-17T13:10:38Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Have you considered sewing the band back together? No. The little loop that holds the free end of the strap is little. It’s too little for my fingers. Also, it’s supposed to be attached to the wrist side of the strap; so the only way to do it is with adhesive. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/19 "2026-08-17T13:15:15Z")
Apropos of absolutely nothing: # [Watch strap glue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373) Rock band name. (“Band”? Get it.) Sorry. I didn’t sleep well. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373/20 "2026-08-17T14:37:26Z")
A picture would help, but I agree with @Princhester that, if you want to try gluing it, you could try Barge Cement or a similar contact adhesive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-strap-glue/1032373.md?page=2)