Replies

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jun 30, 2003 04:01am | #1

   Alan, my grandfather used a small cast iron glue pot in the early 1900's

   and I inherited it from my dad.

   Alas, I lost it or mom tossed it.

   It had a bottom pot, and a top pot (which nestled into the lower one)

   They both hsd 'bails,' (Wire handles) to use when handling when hot.

    My dad occasionaly used them, and I remember they got  'real hot'

   I don't know if crock pots reach that temperature (212 degs)

   If you find the real thing in a flea market ,grab it.

   I kid you not, this is not a 'crock' Stein

1. 
   Biscardi | Jun 30, 2003 04:31am | #2

   I just bought a Rival $19 Crock pot and a meat thermometer. With the lid on at "high" it will boil water. On low with the lid partly off it goes up to 155. The glue pot that comes in the Woodcraft catalugue does 130-150. For the $80 difference, I will try the glue pot. My glue will be here Tuesday. If you can wait a few days, I'll give it  a try and let you know how it works.

   Frank

1. 
   Alan | Jul 03, 2003 02:47am | #5

   All who helped,

   Thanks.

   Frank, yes, please let me (us) know how it works.  Does yours have two speeds?  If so, which setting works the best?

   Alan

2. 
   Andrew | Jun 30, 2003 07:12am | #3

   I picked up a deep fryer at a garage sale for a couple of bucks, and it's worked fine when I've used hide glue.

3. 
   WilliamHF | Jul 01, 2003 01:04am | #4

   I've used hot hide glue intermittently for 35+ years. And, I don't claim to be authoritative.

   Most manufacturers recommend that you heat the glue no higher than 140F.

   It's an animal protein and like any other such protein if you cook it at a high temperature you change it significantly. Rare meat is a different product than is well done meatn. So if you cook it at too high a temperature, you kill its gluing ability.

   That said, it strikes me that hide glue is rather forgiving. You can get away with cooking it a little too hot if you don't do it for long.

   Get hold of some kind of reasonably accurate thermometer to monitor the temperature of your water bath.

   Baby bottle warmers are good for cooking small quantities of hide glue. Serviceable too are Incense warmers, electric skillets,  coffee warming plates,  crock pots and any other electrically powered containers which will heat water.  Any double boiler from the kitchen will serve nicely for preparing hot hide glue. Get some kind of reasonably accurate thermometer and stick it in the water of the double boiler. When the water temp. gets to 140-145 you're in the ball park.

   You don't have to spend $100 on a dedicated electric  glue pot to get the job done. But, admittedly, the gue pots are nice because of their thermostatic heat control. I don't own one but have used them many times in other settings than  in my own shop.

   Lotsa men heat their hide glue in a microwave. Make some test runs with small quantitites varying the time and degree of exposure and you'll soon have it worked out.

   Remember to put tap water into the dry granules of your hide glue for 15 minutes to a couple hours (the range isn't critical) before heating it. Stir the glue as it begins to warm up in whatever heating arrangement you've managed to put together.

   Use, as starters, about three times the weight in water that you do in hide glue granules. You don't have to weigh it; just guess at the volumetric proportion.

   When the gluing job is finished pour the hot hide glue into a glass or ceramic container of some kind and stick it in a freezer. It will keep for many days and be perfectly useable when you take it out of the freezer.

   With experience, one can judge the proper temperature and consistency of the hot hide glue by sticking a small clean cheap brush into the glue, raising it 2-3 inches above the glue in the pot  and seeing how long it takes for the glue to "dribble" back down to the glue "pot" surface.

   Since it's so forgiving, if you've made it too thick by allowing it to set in or on the heat source for too long, just add a little water and stir 'til you get the right consistency. If it is too thin from using too much water to start with, just "cook" it a little longer.

   Hope I haven't misled anyone too much.

   William

   I make something, sometimes twice, each year.
4. 
   CoastalCarver | Jul 03, 2003 06:19pm | #6

   Sorry to be late to the party. I bought a small crock pot two years ago for $7 on sale at my local hardware store. It keeps things at 140 F and works well for hide glue. I put water in the pot and mix the glue in a can.

   At the end of the day I unplug it and leave the lid on with the glue can in the pot. I can use the same glue for four or five days this way. The high temp kills the bacteria and if you leave the lid on in between uses no bacteria or fungi spores are introduced and the glue doesn't spoil. Hide glue is just less refined gelatin after all and gelatin is what they use to grow stuff on petri dishes. The water bath keeps it from drying out.

   BTW, I've also used Knox Unflavored Gelatin in place of hide glue and it works well. It smells much better and you can lick your fingers when you're finished with the glue up. Mmmmmmmmm good!

   Brandon Ford, Lincoln City, Ore.