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Using Hide Glue |
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Hide
glue pellets |
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The
pellets soaking in cold water. |
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The
glue being heated in a water bath. |
Hide
glue is an adhesive made out of the connective tissues, bones
and hides of animals (mainly cattle) that have gone to the slaughterhouse.
It's extracted by "cooking" raw stocks to obtain glue
liquors that are filtered, evaporated to glue solids and then
dried before grinding. When you buy hide glue, it comes in hard
yellow-orange granules or pellets.
Preparation
To
prepare hide glue for use, you have to soak the pellets in cold
water for several hours until they soften and become gelatinous.
If you've never used hide glue before, it's best to start with
a small batch. Put three tablespoons of dry glue in a heat-resistant
glass container (most food jars work well) and cover with two
tablespoons of water. A larger batch of glue can be made using
the same proportion of glue to water.
Next, place the gelatinous glue mixture into a water bath. Heat
the water to 140°F. Be sure to use a thermometer, as it's
important to maintain this temperature. If the water gets too
hot, it will overheat the glue and cause it to lose strength.
It's a good idea to stir the glue mixture occasionally to help
work out any lumps but it's not absolutely necessary. After
a few minutes, the pellets will be melted and the glue will
be ready to use. A properly prepared and heated batch of glue
forms a steady thread as it drips from a brush back into the
glue pot. If the glue drips from the brush in droplets, it's
too thin. To thicken it, stir the glue while it's being heated
until sufficient water has evaporated from the mixture. If the
glue forms thick clumps on the brush, dilute it with hot water
until the desired consistency is achieved. |
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Other Articles from this Issue |
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