Hi -- I read all the articles in MMD about Silicone (I think).  I'm
using silicone sealant (with the acetic acid solvent, by the smell of
it) on some new pouches.  As I prepared the hide glue for the first
pouch, I noticed that the silicone sealant says it can also be used
as an adhesive, which works on (among other things) leather and wood.

So I just attached my first twelve pouches to the pouch board with
silicone sealant.  After they dry, I intend to rub a thin coat of
sealant on the top of the pouch leather, then put a dab right in the
middle to attach the hard lifter disk.

Has anyone else tried this?  Does anyone foresee any problem with this?
I tested this silicone sealant on 2 pieces of wood, and the bond was
pretty strong.  Not quite hide glue, but I'm thinking the pouches won't
ever have great forces pressing on them.

By the way, I also used leather gaskets on the pump bellows-to-manifold
junction, then 'supplemented' the seal with a ring of the same silicone
sealant right around the holes before attaching.  Only problem I can
see is possible degradation of leather in the long term due to
silicone, but the solvent should be gone pretty quickly.

Bill Mackin