How to Prepare Hide Glue
Prized for its strength and solubility, hide glue is primarily used to enhance the strength of violins and other wooden instruments. They key to having good hide glue is proper preparation. Appropriately mixed and heated hide glue can be as strong as the wood itself, while poorly mixed hide glue is just a mess.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Procure the necessary equipment. The glue must be evenly heated during preparation to ensure that it does not burn. Obtain or create a double boiler by combining a smaller metal container to hold the glue and a larger pot to boil the water in. Choose a heating source with a temperature control, such as a hot plate.
-
2
Mix the glue together. The ingredients must be combined together before heating for the glue to work properly. Mix cold water and the glue granules, powder, or flakes at a ratio of one even teaspoon on the glue for every two ounces of water. Stir the contents of the glue pot until they are fully dissolved.
-
-
3
Heat the glue mixture. Pour enough water into the boiler pot to provide even heating around the glue mixture inside the glue pot. Turn the temperature to a low level-at or around 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the glue to heat and use a food thermometer to check the temperature
-
4
Check the glue to see if it's ready. Start examining the glue when it's temperature hits 155 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will soon be done when it reaches about 165. Examine the glue surface for a slight skin that should form when it is ready. Remove the glue container from heat to prevent it from exceeding 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
5
Test and adjust the mixture as necessary. Depending on the hardness of your water and the quality of your dry glue, the mix might be too thin or too thick. Run a bit of the glue between your fingers to see if it feels oily. If it feels thick or watery then throw it out and start over again, adjusting the recipe slightly by adding more or less ingredients
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Save money by making a simple double boiler with a saucepot and a tin can.
Use distilled water to create a superior hide glue.
Do not let the glue heat unsupervised.
