Replies

1. 
   jvs | Aug 26, 2003 04:33am | #1

   Not a hide glue user, so I can't comment on that, but I use slow-set epoxys for anything that needs a lot of fussing at assembly time.  System 3's standard resin with their #3 hardener is rated for 60 minutes at 77F.  To get this, you will have to either chill the mixture or transfer it to a high-surface area container to keep the heat it generates from raising the temperature much beyond that.  In the summer, I use a disposable aluminum bowl (the kind used for pot pies) sitting in a pie plate of cool water; it is easy to get more than an hour of working time that way.  The price is paid on the cure time end--I generally leave things at least 24 hours in the summer and much more in the winter working this way.  West also gets good reviews--pick one and run with it....

   /jvs

2. 
   forestgirl | Aug 26, 2003 07:33am | #2

   Liquid hide glue takes 30 minutes or more to "gel," so that's your working time.  The nice thing about it is, if you get a part together and find you've goofed, hide glue is easy to reverse and re-do.  For a dresser, which of course won't be exposed to water, hide glue would work just fine.  Just keep in mind, the liquid hide glue can take a few days to totally cure.  Doesn't mean it has to be clamped that long, though.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Aug 26, 2003 06:05pm | #3

   Urea formaldehyde has a long open time.   Exactly how long depends on temperature, but you'll be able to get 30 minutes even at 90 degrees.   At 60 degrees, you get hours and hours.    For small quantities, DAP sells urea formaldehyde under the name Plastic Resin.   For larger quantities, Vacupress sells it under the name Unibond 800.

4. 
   Shep | Aug 27, 2003 03:06am | #4

   Boris-- plain old Elmer's white glue will give you plenty of open time and also be plenty strong enough. Be sure to do a dry run before the actual glue up. It will make the real thing a lot easier.

1. 
   scooter1 | Aug 27, 2003 03:13am | #5

   How much open time does the white Borden's have?

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

1. 
   Shep | Aug 27, 2003 04:07am | #7

   Boris-- I don't remember exactly how long ( and I don't have a bottle handy ) but I think its at least 20-25 minutes before it grabs enough .  I think there was an article  in FWW or another mag several years ago about open times for certain glues. I'll try to find it and get back to you. It might take a day or two, since my computer skills aren't that hot.

2. 
   Shep | Aug 28, 2003 02:02am | #8

   Boris-- It took a while but I'm back! FWW # 96, Oct. 1992 has an article about glues.It says white glue has an open time of 3-5 minutes, although I know I've done longer with no problems. Hide glue has an open time of 2-5 minutes,  urea formaldehyde and resorcinol both have open times of 10 minutes, and epoxy has an open time of 5-90 minutes. All these times seem a little conservative to me, but that may be a good thing. I have been known to push my glue-ups a bit. I hope this information helps you.

1. 
   scooter1 | Aug 28, 2003 02:21am | #9

   Thanks. This is sounding more and more like an epoxy job. I have a dresser, and I can pre-assemble the sides and back, and the Web Frames, but have 5 dividers and partitions to glue up, then add the dividers and assemble the three sides. I am guessing about 20 minutes by myself.

   Thanks again, you were very helpfull.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

5. 
   ChasStanford | Aug 27, 2003 03:31am | #6

   Dap Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue.

   It's not reversible like hide glue.  Liquid hide glue (LHG) has a longer open time than regular hot hide glue, but it seems to suffer from slightly less cured strength than the old fashioned stuff.  If you use LHG, please notice the expiration date on the container and DO NOT try to push the date, or you will be very sorry.