Hide glue

1/5/04, 6:40 PM #1

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA
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Hide glue

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>Hi Folks,

Once you've mixed up a batch of hide glue, can it be stored and reheated? Seems a shame to throw it out after a single session. But if stored and reheated, does it lose strength? And does it need to be refrigerated?

Thanks in advance, Wiley

Re: Hide glue

1/5/04, 7:09 PM #2

Ed Snow
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Re: Hide glue

Ed Snow

>It does lose its strength if it is just congealed to room temp and reheated repeatedly. However, if the glue is kept in a baby food of jam jar with a cover and taken from glue pot to fridge it can last of several weeks.

Re: Hide glue

1/5/04, 7:56 PM #3

David Linnabary
Guest

Re: Hide glue

David Linnabary

>As an aside note, I found a smaller device for heating my glue which makes it more convenient to make up small batches.

It's a Rival potpouri cooker, it's a minuature version of their big crock pots and sells for about $7 in your discount type store. Although there is no heat control it seems to keep the glue at just the right heat rang if it is kept covered. I double boil the glue in an aluminum measuring cup which is convenient to carry to my work then return to the crock. Later it can be set aside to cool and then stored in the frige.

David

Re: Hide glue

1/6/04, 3:49 AM #4

John Aniano in Central NJ
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Registered: 12/31/03
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Re: Hide glue

John Aniano in Central NJ

>Wiley,

As Ed suggested, hide glue does degrade with repeated coolings and heatings. How much, I don't know.

Another good method to heat hide glue is to use one of those coffee cup/mug warmers. These warmers have a thermostat built into them and you put the glue into a baby-food jar. The cap goes on when not in use (and the glue begins to degrade!).

Take care,

John

- - -

My bowmaking web site I have done some sort of woodworking since I was 6 years old. In 5th grade I tried, with my father's help, to make a pine violin. It hangs on the wall in my shop. Later in middle school I had basic wood shop class. No project I can remember that survived from then! In high school, I took wood shop I and II, and metal shop I and II. This along with the usual college prep courses - my counselors thought I was nuts! I made a number of clocks during high school, maybe 2 dozen altogether, including wall clocks, shelf clocks and a pocket watch with wooden case, some of which I still have. I began to collect, restore and use old wood working tools. I especially like 19th century English tools. After graduation, I made a grandfather clock which is now on the landing of my home staircase. I made the metal dial and metal hands as well. In college, I studied Industrial Arts to be a shop teacher. I made a number of projects including a multi-wood specie flax-style spinning wheel and a walnut tool box. In 1978 I began to make stringed instrument bows, self-taught at first. After graduation, between 1982 and '83, I worked for William Salchow, who, at the time, was the best known bow maker in New York City. I stopped bow making in the mid-80's to attend college again, this time for ceramic engineering. Got married in 1988 to my wife Debbie. With her help (although I did a lot of the cooking, hey, I had the time!) I pursued a BS and MS in ceramic engineering. Worked for ~12 years as an engineer in the field of fiber optics (I have one patent to show for it). In 2002 I switched back to making and repairing bows. In 2006 I won a gold medal at the Violin Society of America's International competition. Later, in 2010, I got a second gold medal. Not easy for 50+ year old eyes! I continue to do some general woodworking - dovetailed drawers, frame and panel work, restoration tasks for our 260+ year old home - things like that. Mostly hand work. I have only a few power tools - a tiny 7" blade INCA table saw (which never gets used), 6" Atlas Jointer, 14" Rockwell bandsaw, a circa 1943 Delta 768 10" bandsaw, a 9", 3 foot Southbend metal lathe, Rusnok milling machine, a no-name wood lathe, and Jet drill press. I am a member of the Central Jersey Woodworkers Association - I was the vice president for the CJWA a few years back. I took Mike Dunbar's class in the late '90s and made a sackback chair. Back in ~2010 I outfitted a new, passive solar shop space for bow making and general woodworking. New benches, tool racks, etc. Still working (ever so slowly) on my 10 foot long Roubo-style bench. As of November 2018, the four pieces of ash that will comprise the top need to be milled and fitted, but the base is ~95% finished. Absolutely the largest and heaviest item I've ever made. It has been a fun journey so far!

Re: Hide glue

1/6/04, 5:39 AM #5

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA
Guest

Re: Hide glue

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>Thanks for the ideas! The lot size is kinda the issue, I see. I actually bought a glue pot. But then I have to make up more than I need. So David suggested the Rival pot pourri, and the baby-food-jar-with-warmer seems like a great way to go based on what Ed and John say.

Maybe I could mix up baby food amounts and use my glue pot for temperature control. Here's the thing, though: Who's gonna eat all that baby food? Hey John, what's your favorite? Junior beef?

Wiley

Re: Hide glue

1/6/04, 12:10 PM #6

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL
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Re: Hide glue

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>There also is a little device known as a Li'l Dipper for keeping cheesey chip dips warm. Just cruise a small appliances department and you will probably find something useful.

Re: Hide glue

1/6/04, 1:43 PM #7

Gerry Mayberry
Guest

Re: Hide glue

Gerry Mayberry

>I have not used hot hide glue but have used the available Franklin version. They have an expiration date on the container that is helpful. Hide glue does deteriorate with time due to the breakdown of protein. An interesting trick that I saw Frank Klausz use was to rub some suspect glue between your fingers until it gets very sticky. Then separate your thumb and forefinger and see if tiny strings(many) are observable. The longer the strings, the better the glue. I am told by a chemist buddy that it has to do with the length of the protein chain. I use this trick and when the glue is older, not many strings are evident.

Hide glue

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