Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 09, 2003 08:39pm | #1

   Eddit, I've followed the hide glue discussions pretty closely over the past year or so, and don't recall anything about using gelatin as a substitute.  I do recall, however, someone saying that hide glue is a close cousin to Jello (an attempt to gross us out, LOL).  I think you'll have to resign yourself to a trip to the glue supplier.

   forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   jako17 | Dec 10, 2003 02:36am | #2

   I have no 1st hand experience but have also read that gelatine works .That makes sense ,as it is the same stuff collagen (sp?) I think if you mix it to the same fluidity as hide glue it will be fine.It's strength may not be the same as hide glue  but for veneer, strength is not the issue

3. 
   JohnWW | Dec 10, 2003 06:05am | #3

   Eddie,

   I was the original poster of the comment that gelatin is just a refined grade of hide glue and in fact it comes out of the same factories.  The question I answered at the time was for someone who just needed a teaspoon or so to experiment with for a jewelry making process and they didn't want to go out and have to buy a pound of it.

   Would food gelatin work reliably as a furniture glue?, I don't know.  It may have long term stability problems or less strength than a traditional hide glue but it would probably work well enough to get the project out of the door.  It would only take a quick experiment to see if gelatin works at all similar to traditional glue.  If it does, and you're desperate enough, it might be worth going with. 

   The stuff is wicked expensive, something like $30.00 a pound, in little foil packets at the supermarket, so it sure isn't economical.  Your best bet would be to call Franklin Glue or the local equivalent in Australia.

   Good luck and let us know what happens if you use it.

   John W.

4. 
   jazzdogg | Dec 10, 2003 07:26am | #4

   Eddie,

   I tried it as an experiment after a professor told us the gelatin packets they sell at the grocery store are nothing more than a more-refined version of hide glue: very finely ground versus granules.

   It worked fine to rub a set of four glue blocks in place. Didn't have as powerful an aroma as regular hot hide glue <g>, but provided a little more open time. I didn't try it on veneer.

   What ever you do, don't heat it past 140-degrees farenheit.

   If you decide to "go for it" on your veneering project, please let us know how it turns out.

   Paul

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.