I don't think contact cement is the same. It's supposed to be rubber cement.

Here is the Contact cement discription from the Elmers website. Says it's rubber??

Use: Hardware, Home & Office

Type: Cement

Features: Specialty

Size: Less than 4 oz.

Package Count: 1
Product Description:

Neoprene rubber for an ultra flexible bond. Convenient and fast drying. Adheres to plastic, laminate metal and wood. For indoor and outdoor use. Solvent free, water resistant.
Product Rating:

That might be but from what I found by googling, contact cement and rubber cement are two different things. I used to work in a hardware store (in two different states) and contact cement was considered heavy duty for things like flooring and laminate countertops and rubber cement is more for paper and cardboard and stuff like that.

adding this-this is what I have seen as 'contact cement'. Maybe there are different types but when someone would come in and ask for contact cement, this is what we sold them:
http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=35

and this is what I think of as rubber cement. It comes in a small glass jar with a brush attached to the lid and when I was a kid, it was suitable for kids to use. Not sure if they still consider it kid-safe.
http://www.elmers.com/product/detail/E904

Ok, I am in the dark here. rubber cement? in a tube or..

anyone from australia on here.. do we have this product and is it under the same name. ?

Yes it's @ Michael's in the spray glue & adhesives aisle. Brown jar, orange lid. Blue & white label. It should be available at every hardware store local to big box stores, also @ most drug stores like CVS & walgreen, as well as target, walmart, etc.

Hi janedb -

Someone else posted this link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_cement. When I posted this thread, it never dawned on me that this product was not universal. It is used here in the US as an office supply as well as in art for mounting photos and other art objects. After it sets up and dries - the excess can be gently rubbed off leaving no trace of the product. Usually comes in a jar or a tin.

Kitsie - yes I too find that if I leave thread on the cutting board that it will pick them up. I have not had any trouble picking up lint from quilt shop fabric - but never tried it on flannel - which I expect would be very linty and stick to it. When the coating outlives it usefulness - I just rub it off and reapply a new coat.