Glue Pot

Re: Glue Pot

Hank Knight

I don't have experience with the Lee Valley model you referenced, but I've been using one from Stewart McDonald luthier's Supply for a long time. It is very similar to the Lee Valley one, except it is brass. The warmer looks identical. I like it a lot for a couple of reasons. First it is a convenient size. It cooks about 4 oz. of hide glue which is plenty for my needs. The glue container is secure in the water bath, unlike the glass jar in the Rival tea pot I was using, but it is removable so it allows me to store unused glue in the fridge. My two complaints are (1) it doesn't have a wiper bar across the top of the glue container to remove excess glue from the brush and (2) the warmer doesn't hold a constant temperature. If I don't watch it carefully, it over heats the glue. This may be a problem or a defect unique to my warmer, but you might want to check with others who have experience with the Lee Valley model.

Re: Glue Pot

Jack Guzman from Maine

I use the LV pot with a rival hot pot. I cut a hole in the lid to hold the glue pot. I have used this setup for years.

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

Thanks Hank, I'll take a look at theirs too...

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

Thanks Jack... is that the mini Crock Pot?

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

I went to Stew Mac and the only one that shows up on a search for a glue pot is the Hold-Heet, but it's no longer available.

Re: Glue Pot

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Charles, have you considered an electric hot wax warmer? It looks like a miniature crock pot. I have one.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Glue Pot

Jack Guzman from Maine

It is a white plastic electric teapot.Sold where they sell kitchen supplies. Holds about a quart of water. Google "rival hot pot"

Re: Glue Pot

Don Stephan

It will be necessary tomorrow to try to remember the brand of glue pot I have. The copper inner pot slips into an outer one with an electric cord but no heat adjustment. Both inner and outer have their own bail handle.

One suggestion I read somewhere years ago was to keep the hide glue in a clean can of corn or other vegetable. The vegetable can is about 1 or 1 1/2" smaller diameter, so there is a water bath completely around it. After gluing is finished, I dry the outside of the vegetable can, slip a pair of small plastic bags over it and secure with a rubber band, then store in the fridge. The plastic bags slow moisture loss from the hide glue and the lower temperature of the fridge greatly slows mold growth.

Re: Glue Pot

John in NM

Derek's onto something with the wax melt pot. Adjustable temp so the wax doesn't burn the skin (I'm assuming that is the kind of wax melt pot he's talking about). Good size, nice and compact.

I made a bunch using copper plumbing caps and a coffee warmer. That works fine for me and I don't have to wait as long for the glue to be ready.

For saving glue I put extra in little squeeze bottles and syringes and stick it in the freezer (that lives in my shop). Thaw out in some water on the hot plate and use.

Re: Glue Pot

Rick W

I have the Lee Valley glue pot and warmer. They work great, and I'm happy with them.

One thing I like is their small size. I repair furniture, so I don't need a lot of glue at once.

I usually mix up two tablespoons of glue, which fills up the pot.

Rick W

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

I have. I'm like the idea of being able to take the pot off the heat for a bit and the glue stay warm, hence the L-V unit.

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

My immediate need is on an antique repair/restoration. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to pull the trigger on the L-V unit today. Thanks for weighing-in.

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

Thanks Jack. I used to put glue in an empty jar that had held pimentos (it was the perfect size) and then put that in a thin pan that sat on top of a hot plate set on its lowest setting. This worked OK for a while, but eventually the water would get too hot.

Will give this more thought but leaning toward giving Lee Valley a shot on this one. Thanks for your thoughts.

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

Definitely giving these other solutions some thought, but leaning toward LV. Before I had the Hold Heet, I had a jury-rigged solution but it would eventually build up too much heat after several hours. I had to fiddle with it and that's what I'm trying to avoid. I guess they don't make Hold Heet units anymore, or there are production delays due to COVID. I'd bail into a new one, they're great, but certainly not a bargain solution.

Re: Glue Pot

Charlie

Giving all of these very good suggestions some thought.

It appears that everybody who once carried the Hold Heet brand shows them as unavailable. Not sure what happened. I assume it must be COVID-19 related, but maybe not.

Hold Heet etc

john jesseph

I had an old Hold Heet that developed thermostat problems. I have contact information for the company if you want to look in to getting it repaired. The owner is super responsive. The very old ones like mine are insulated with asbestos, and are not repairable. With the availability of very good cheaper alternatives, I imagine the already small Hold Heet market has shrunk.

I have one of the fancy small brass pots marketed to luthiers, and a small cast iron pot a lot like the Lee Valley one. Both are very nice. I haven’t seen that LV one before, but I’d buy it if wanted a new hide glue pot.

Re: Hold Heet etc

Charlie

Thanks John. Please do post the information you have. I have not thrown the unit away. I'll need something in the interim, but if a repair is possible that would be great. I do fear that my unit probably has asbestos insulation though. It was old when I bought it secondhand on Ebay.

Appreciate your help.

Re: Hold Heet etc

john jesseph

Try this. This was good as of two or three years ago. Pic expires in one day, just in case the contact info is no longer valid.

Re: Hold Heet etc

John in NM

Even if the heater unit is too old for them to want to repair, you probably have the copper pot version? I remember them switching to aluminum when copper prices went nuts around 2005, and copper was then the expensive deluxe option.

Probably that pot will work with a new heater unit if/when they get back to production.

One thing I will say about the LV pot (which I have) the pot is very nice, I like it and I like the idea of the double boiler. The hot plate is not regulated, and it takes a long time to get the water to temperature. My wife knocked mine over and it broke, but I have a similar one I use in its place - they are readily available on Amazon and ebay, just China made cup warmers.

Thermostatic control is worth it. Having never had it on a glue pot I tend to stick with my copper plumbers caps direct on the warmer - but a proper pot will heat the water bath much more quickly and then hold the correct temp for the glue. The weak spot with coffee warmers is that they tend to be a low wattage element so that they can keep ~140F without bothering about a thermostat.

Re: Hold Heet etc

Charlie

Thanks!

Re: Hold Heet etc

Charlie

Thanks for this. Priority is naturally a solution that is more or less 'set it and forget it' I was pretty much prepared to pay ~200 bucks to replace the Hold Heet, but I can't find one.

I have one with a copper pot, and I'm certainly not throwing that part of it out.

Re: Hold Heet etc

Warren in Lancaster, PA

Try the Best Things:

https://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/hide_glue.htm

Re: Glue Pot Baby Bottle Warmer *LINK*

Stuart Johnson

This is the one I use with a small jar for the glue. It heats fast and hold the heat.


Baby Bottle Warmer

Re: Hold Heet etc

Charlie

Thanks! Ordering now.