This is a first for me. I am attaching a word document to a message. The subject is hide glue. The article was sent to me for consideration.
Early last week, I called and wrote to Bjorn Industries about hide glue ordering. Had a very nice talk with the guy who operates the business. He sent me some attached price lists and a very interesting history of hide glue. I think this might be interesting reading for some on knots.
If this stirs your interest, you can find him on the internet or get back with me and I will post more information.
This guy has traveled all over the world for the last 30-35 years inspecting hide glue producers. He is quite an expert and he is willing to work with you and answer questions on most any level.
I have his price list and I would be happy to attach it to another message if anyone would like to look it over.
Hope this helps
dan
Edited 3/6/2008 9:37 am ET by danmart
Edited 3/6/2008 9:38 am ET by danmart
Replies
Would love to have a copy of the price list.
Thanks,
John
Sorry to be so disjointed about this. Here is the price list for Bjorn Industries. It was so easy to put attachments in the message, I just went ahead and added the history sheet again. Its only a few Kb so hopefully the guys in Connecticut won't get upset.
I might add - the guy at Bjorn is not just a salesman he will help you with anything related to the glue and the glue process. Don't hesitate to contact him by email or phone. Super good guy.
I am really happy with the 192 for general glue operations. For stuff that I don't want to feel so rushed with, I am using Patrick Edwards "Old Brown Glue" from a bottle. It dries slower than any of the yellow or white glues and it seems to be about the same as the 192 as far as I can tell. I really like the convenience of having the stuff in a bottle at my bench. Just ordered some new stuff from Patrick. I talked to him on the phone and he's so careful with the glue, he told me he is willing to send a bottle(2-3months old) of his 5oz stuff out to guys who have doubts about it and he'll send it free in some cases. Give him a call you never know it might be the beginning of a new skill for you. If you google Patrick Edwards and marquetry he'll come up on the top of the list. He's out in San Diego. What a craftsman and instructor.
As you can tell I'm putting my 2 cents in for hide glue. I am not on a campaign to take yellow/white glues off the shelf. My support for hide glue is driven by the unique qualities of the glue that allow you to make repairs by reactivating the old glue with new glue or hot water or in some cases a bit of heat. If you have been using the stuff you know. If you haven't fooled with the stuff, try a pound. Just get a small pot of water up to 140-150 degrees and cook up some glue in a double boiler set up. I think you will like using it.
To find out how to measure it all kinds of scientific ways, google around and read some of this stuff the music instrument makers are doing. I'm not that serious. I re-heat mine time after time and put it in the refrigerator and all that non-technical stuff. Truth is-- I'm havin' fun and I'm not having failures. I'm getting a little weird with my testing of different gram strengths. No sooner did I get on a roll - I found out the glue quality changes a bit every time you reheat it. So more testing on that note.
Lots of new adventures and opportunities if you give this glue a try. If you get discouraged with it, you can always use it to do "rub joints" when you can not get a clamp on something. My students get the hang of this and master it on the first attempt-- its easy and very useful.
dan
Thanks for the information. Ill send him and email.
John
Hide glue, Ain't it interesting that after all this time we really don't have a modern adhesive that is as versatile?
One of my woodworking heros was Tage Frid and he once said with enough hide glue and a veneer hammer he could veneer the world without a press or a vacuum bag! Amen.
I'll tell you too as a girl woodworker the stuff is a lot easier on the hands than PVA or most of the others. It's also kind of fun to paint on a scrap of wood and place it outside the shop and watch the critters snif it out! We've seen a couple eagles, and the little carnivors seem to come from miles around at the scent! Yeah I know but they do provide a welcome diversion from some of the repetitive work on occasion.
Madison
It's also kind of fun to paint on a scrap of wood and place it outside the shop and watch the critters snif it out!
My dog sits right next to the pot the minute I fire it up. Years ago, I thought of giving him a little cooled down stuff when it gets to about the rubbery stage. I was a little anxious about it.
On a trip to the vet, I asked him about it and he was buffaloed. I brought some old watery stuff along on a trip and let it harden back up to a gelatin "hockey puck" type thing while we were checkin' my old pooch. He said you couldn't hurt the dog if he licked it or ate it-- its gelatin and its already swollen.
I still wasn't keen on giving the old boy glue?? Its got to stick to something right?
I guess if we were starving and it was the last thing around, I'd give him a small portion first ... wait to see if he croaks. If not the rest is my lunch. Ha
later
You know the shiney stuff on the raw hide chewies? Yup hide glue!
Just keep it thin and it won't hurt him a bit, just keep the glue pot high enough that he can't reach it!
Madison
"I still wasn't keen on giving the old boy glue?? Its got to stick to something right?"
Chemically speaking, hide glue is basically the same thing as Jell-O. Ever eat a dried up gummi bear? Same idea.
-Steve
steve,
Exactly so. If you are in a bind for hide glue, and can't wait for the "special" stuff from woodcraft, Bjorn or whoever, go to the grocery store, and buy a couple envelopes of Knox brand unflavored gelatin. Same stuff, only refined.
Ray
I understand that the gram strength of supermarket Jell-O is a bit lower than that of woodworking Jell-O.
-Steve
Steve,
But for those who complain about the smell... mmmm strawberry!
Ray
"But for those who complain about the smell... mmmm strawberry!"
I was thinking the same thing...but I've decided to stick with Titebond.
Get it? Stick with Titebond. Nyuk, nyuk.... That one was worthy of that Kidderville guy.
-Steve
Edited 3/6/2008 9:28 pm ET by saschafer
So, you're gettin Tite with Stickbond are ya!? Ooops, that dang keyboard again.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Steve
Now I feel guilty. My old pooch is chasin' the big rabbit and I never gave him a bone flavored gummie bear??
The glue gods are looking down at me as a thoughtless toad who mistreated his olde pal. If only I had Knots back then.
later
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