Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Reversing Hide Glue...vinegar or alcohol
Joe Hurst
>Guys-
I'm wondering if any of you would share your experience with this...I've gathered that both work, but which one is quicker?
Will either crack the bond without having to maintain joint-breaking pressure (like when using just steam or hot water)?
Thanks,
Joe
Is it a finished piece?
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA
>If so alcohol could harm the finish. Never used vinegar. I could'nt tell you witch one is quicker.
It's finished
Joe Hurst
>Yup, this is a finished piece...not quite an antique, but sufficiently old. I used a Q-tip and applied hot water to a small patch, and it softened up nicely, but multiple drops of hot water don't seem to be enough to soften a tight-fitting tenon.
The offending joint is near the back of the case, so there's no great risk of damaging the finish. Plus, I plan to apply the dissolver with a glue syringe, so I will use as little as possible, and only where it's needed.
-Joe
Heat!
Jim Cosgrove
>Apply heat with a hair dryer or heat gun. It will soften the glue and you can pull the joint apart.
I once had glued up a mortise and tenon frame with hide glue only to find that it had twisted in the clamps. I soaked it for more than 24 hours and then tried to force the joint apart with a spreader (reversed clamp). The joint wouldn't budge! Really convinced me of the holding power of hide glue. I think what happened,in part, is that the wood swelled and really prevented water from getting into the joint. Still, after more than 24 hours of being submerged you would think that the joint would give, but it didn't. I finally took a heat gun to it and had it apart in about 15 minutes.
Good luck! Let us know how you make out.
--Jim
Boiling Water
Steve Wargo
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