Worldway Posted March 25, 2023 Share #1 Posted March 25, 2023 I was wondering if anyone uses hide glue or Old Brown Glue and what their opinion is of it. I did do a forum search on the topic and found a couple of older discussions but nothing current. I see that it is a reversible glue in the sense that parts can be unglued using heat and water. I thought that might be a benefit to someone like me who tends to do a lot of rework. I know there is a downside to hide glue, whereby it has to be heated. Apparently, and correct me if I’m wrong, Old Brown Glue is basically a hide glue that doesn’t need to be preheated. I also read that hide glue tends to shrink when drying effectively pulling the parts together tighter. Just wondering if this might be something worth considering. mtaylor 1 Quote Derek If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea Antoine de Saint Exupery Current Builds Bluenose - Model Shipways - 1:64 Scale Fair American - Model Shipways - 1:48 Scale HMS Winchelsea 1764 - Group Build On Deck Guns of History Naval Smoothbore Deck Gun - 1:24 Scale Finished Builds Mare Nostrum - Artesania Latina - 1:35 Scale Guns of History Carronade - Model Shipways - 1:24 Scale Member of the Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaager Posted March 25, 2023 Share #2 Posted March 25, 2023 I am just speculating, but Old Brown and Franklin hide glues are convenient because they are used at room temp. The downside is that the water concentration has to be high enough to produce unwanted side effects in the wood being glued. If you are serious, you might oughta pay the price of the hassle of a glue pot. The water concentration is just enough to get a fluid - if you do it correctly. I break my rules this one time and use a man made synthetic -PVA - because a hot pot is too much extra work. Canute, mtaylor and Bob Cleek 3 Quote NRG member 45 years Current: HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 ship - timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted March 25, 2023 Share #3 Posted March 25, 2023 3 hours ago, Jaager said: I am just speculating, but Old Brown and Franklin hide glues are convenient because they are used at room temp. The downside is that the water concentration has to be high enough to produce unwanted side effects in the wood being glued. If you are serious, you might oughta pay the price of the hassle of a glue pot. The water concentration is just enough to get a fluid - if you do it correctly. I break my rules this one time and use a man made synthetic -PVA - because a hot pot is too much extra work. One of these smaller sized "crock pots" ("slow cookers") would serve for keeping hide glue heated, wouldn't it? No need to spring for a Lee Valley or Garret Wade $150 model, right? 0.65 qt slow cooker warmer, fondue pot set,chocolate melting pot (amazon.com) mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce d Posted March 25, 2023 Share #4 Posted March 25, 2023 8 hours ago, Worldway said: I was wondering if anyone uses hide glue or Old Brown Glue 8 hours ago, Worldway said: I see that it is a reversible glue in the sense that parts can be unglued using heat and water Do you have a particular project or task in mind? Titebond makes a room-temperature hide glue that makes life simple, you may have trouble finding it but try luthier suppliers such as Timberline hereintheUK. If the reversible quality is what you are after perhaps home-made rice glue is the answer. There is a thread somewhere discussing it. HTH Bruce mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote 🌻 STAY SAFE A model shipwright and an amateur historian are heads & tails of the same coin current builds: HMS Berwick 1775, 1/192 scratchbuild; a Slade 74 in the Navy Board style Mediator sloop, 1/48 - an 18th century transport scratchbuild French longboat - CAF - 1/48, on hold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snug Harbor Johnny Posted March 25, 2023 Share #5 Posted March 25, 2023 I only used hide glue for veneering. I mixed my own from granular hide glue (indefinite shelf life), and it does have to be heated. Old -time wood workers used it for furniture joints, typically tongue and groove - as well as veneering. It may not be practical for modeling use - just as the old-time bookbinders' flour & water paste has been superseded by water soluble PVA. mtaylor, Canute and bruce d 3 Quote Completed builds: Khufu Solar Barge - 1:72 Woody Joe Current project(s): Gorch Fock restoration 1:100, Billing Wasa (bust) - 1:100 Billings, Great Harry (bust) 1:88 ex. Sergal 1:65 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted March 25, 2023 Share #6 Posted March 25, 2023 Titebond glues are also heat-reversible. I coat both the veneer and substrate with this, allow it to dry, then heat-bond the layers using an iron. A lot simpler than the alchemy of glue pots - and the odour! Canute, mtaylor and bruce d 3 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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