Replies

1. 
   swenson | Sep 15, 2010 09:41am | #1

   why aren't we all using hide glue?

   If my memory serves me right I looked into it and found that the electric glue pots needed to keep hide glue liquid cost over 200 bucks and I thought that Titebond was looking better by the minute.  I just didn't want to spend that kind of $ just to see if I liked it or not.  That said, when I am in near panic struggling with a bunch of parts and a faster setting glue, I think about the longer open time of hide glue and might reconsider,

1. 
   ResIpsaLoquitur | Sep 27, 2010 02:37pm | #5

   I use hide glue frequently. I buy granular glue and heat it up with water in an electric glue pot. Because it takes a while to heat up I have to plan my glue-ups more carefully.

2. 
   Jfrostjr | Sep 16, 2010 09:50am | #2

   Hide Glue

   Jammersix

   Go to a big-box store and buy a a little plastic tea pot with a temp control. I use a "Rival Hot Pot". Google it.  Find the setting that maintains 145* and mark it. Keep your glue in a canning jar sitting in the hot water. All told - $20. (I'll split the $180 you save with you.)

   But - I find hide glue a mess to work with. I've used it several times gluing veneer and banding on demi-lune rails.It is sticky and everything it touches gets sticky. Keep a pail of warm water handy to clean things off. 

   After is sets (cools) it is hard as a rock and strong. It is reversible but that is not as easy as it sounds.

   Frosty

1. 
   Jammersix | Sep 16, 2010 04:16pm | #3

   Twenty!

   I"m in! I'll do it!

   I can afford to spend twenty dollars, glue some stuff up, and then say "this didn't work!" and throw the whole thing away.

   I guess I need a meat thermometer to find the 145º, too.

   Are there any brands of glue I should try or avoid?

   And as it happens, I test my glue joints using the cut-offs most of the time, and I just last night had a whole set fail on me with Titebond! Not sure what happened, I think I may have failed to tighten down the clamps completely.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Sep 16, 2010 04:33pm | #4

   Hide glue

   I think I got mine from Lee Valley. Woodcraft sells it too.

   Don't forget the bucket of warm water to clean up. Good luck.

   Frosty

3. 
   philtomlinson | Oct 11, 2010 01:16pm | #6

   olde brown glue

   You might also check out Olde Brown Glue: http://www.oldbrownglue.com/index.html

   I just ordered some after reading about the product vs. hide glue.  OBG is reversible, sounds pretty easy to work with, has a good open time, and about 6 month shelf life unless you refrigerate it.  Says you do have to warm it up to 80 degrees but once you do that it's good for the day.