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Easy Introduction To Hide Glue

So maybe you're like me...you started building these Cigar Box instruments but have also branched out into other areas of instrument making/repair. You quickly learned that in order to do it "right" you need to figure out this whole hide glue thing. You go on Stewmac, checkout that glue pot for $115, add on the glue...it starts to add up. You keep putting it off saying, "I'll get it before that next project." Good news! You can start using hide glue for just $25! I found this simple hide glue kit from the International Violin Company, based in Baltimore. It comes with a warming plate, two jars to make a double-bath, 1/4 lb. of hide glue, applicator brushes, and best of all...easy to read instructions written in English! Of course you can mix up a batch in a small crock pot, but its nice to get it all together and know that it was meant to go together. Let me know if you have any luck with it.

http://www.internationalviolin.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=T823

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 28, 2010 at 7:26pm

I heat my hide glue in a stainless steel dogbowl which sits on top of a pan of hot water on the stove...cost around $2.

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Permalink Reply by Ben on September 29, 2010 at 2:37am

There you go! I think once I buy a pan and a stove it would be a bit more though!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 29, 2010 at 5:06am

You don't have a stove?

Ben said:

There you go! I think once I buy a pan and a stove it would be a bit more though!

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Permalink Reply by Ben on September 29, 2010 at 5:09am

Not in my workshop (patio)!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 29, 2010 at 5:12am

Ah...(nodding)

Ben said:

Not in my workshop (patio)!

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Permalink Reply by Ben on September 29, 2010 at 6:33am

I think we have the same model workshop, don't we?

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on September 29, 2010 at 6:39am

I was thinking of getting one of these for heating my gluepot

http://www.campmania.co.uk/Item-3-15-cat-0-brand-639-Campingaz_Camp...

Has the advantage of also being able to brew up coffee in the workshop/patio...and I don't think my wife has totally accepted me preparing hide glue on the kitchen stove.

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Permalink Reply by Ben on September 29, 2010 at 6:51am

Nice! Now if you can get it to run on denatured alcohol (good for desolving hide glue joints). When I told my girlfriend that I had to "cook" it, her face fell!

ChickenboneJohn said:

I was thinking of getting one of these for heating my gluepot

http://www.campmania.co.uk/Item-3-15-cat-0-brand-639-Campingaz_Camp...

Has the advantage of also being able to brew up coffee in the workshop/patio...and I don't think my wife has totally accepted me preparing hide glue on the kitchen stove.

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on October 11, 2010 at 12:29pm

Ben said:

Nice! Now if you can get it to run on denatured alcohol (good for desolving hide glue joints). When I told my girlfriend that I had to "cook" it, her face fell!

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but wouldn't denatured alcohol dissolve the hide glue at the expense of ruining the finish?

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Permalink Reply by Ben on October 11, 2010 at 1:14pm

Not a stupid question at all. If you have a finish (varnish or something) then you do have to be very careful with it or anywhere that it drips will get "milky." You just have to be careful. I guess that should have been a disclaimer in the original post.

Scotty C. said:

Ben said:
Nice! Now if you can get it to run on denatured alcohol (good for desolving hide glue joints). When I told my girlfriend that I had to "cook" it, her face fell!

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but wouldn't denatured alcohol dissolve the hide glue at the expense of ruining the finish?