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Thickening hide glue

 
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Michael Darnton
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:28 pm    Post subject: Thickening hide glue Reply with quote

I'm not sure what to do with this, so I thought I'd post something here.

The other day I was researching boric acid, and learned that it's used as a anti-fungal. Some people have even used it as foot powder for athlete's foot. (Something that I wouldn't do, having read more about the stuff).

Because I stretch the limit on my hide glue, always keeping some hot on the bench, I am always looking for ways to keep it from growing mold, etc, on the days when I haven't heated it. Sometimes if I think of it I pour a layer of alcohol on the cold glue to kill whatever is there.

So putting this all together, I decided to drop a big pinch of boric acid into my glue to see what would happen. Later in the day I checked it, and it was strange--much thicker than I'd made, and very sticky-slippery, not like glue at all. But when I tested it, it did appear to still be real glue with an unpleasant texture.

I'm still running this through my mind, wondering what use I could make of this. I'm wondering, among other things, what kind of undercoat/sealer it would make. Would it stay more on top of the wood? Would it be less soluble later? Would it look different?
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shaunfosdick
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Joined: 22 Jul 2013
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Location: saint louis

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to Stephen Shepherd's hide glue book, boric acid and formaldehyde makes the glue waterproof. Interesting book and worth a read.
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L P Reedy
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Joined: 02 Apr 2009
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Location: Brevard, NC

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have no experience with boric acid, but for preserving hide glue I use a tip from an old Fine Woodworking magazine. I add a few crystals of phenol, also known as carbolic acid. Thymol was also mentioned as less toxic, but I don't ingest my glue. It may be hard to find either but I have a several-lifetime's supply. I can attest that it works. I have had year-old glue, not refrigerated, that still works fine. I virtually never throw any out. If you remember the smell of Lepage's glue, that was phenol.

I wouldn't use your boric acid glue for anything without extensive testing. Good luck.

Lyle
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ollieken
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Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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Location: New Brunswick Canada

PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 4:45 pm    Post subject: boric acid Reply with quote

Michael Boric acid was used years ago for foot bath .
I Remember all the kids had those old rubber of sort sneakers
& your feet would sweat & not smell very good .

Just one wash or two & never had any more trouble with your feet
smelling
Now that was 65 or more years ago & I am walking on the proof .
Now I suppose if you used that on a kid that would be child abuse .
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Michael Darnton
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Reading up on boric acid I discovered that it has been used as a foot powder, so that's not too out there, but at this point what most interests me is the change in consistency that it causes.

I also found a lot of scare-sites where they claim it's a deadly poison, but you have to eat quite a bit to harm you. As my mother used to tell me, even too many peaches will kill you. :-) It seems like we're in a time where everyone is afraid of everything. Too bad.....
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Linden
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Joined: 30 Sep 2015
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Location: Missouri Ozarks

PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember reading years ago about putting a clove of garlic in the glue pot. I can't remember what it was supposed to do. Does anyone do that or know why one would. Maybe to keep the fungus out ???
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byacey
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Joined: 29 Mar 2008
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Location: Edmonton, Alberta

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Add some meat from pork hocks and you have a tasty recipe for headcheese!
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