Hey guys,
I am taking the plunge into hide glue, and have a million questions. I read the FWW #57 article from 1986 on the Peter Cooper Company, and Frid's book No. 2 on the subject. And the download from Highland Hdw. And, I got a lesson from a friend of mine who has used it for years. All different, interestingly.
So, the questions --
1. How thick should it be at point of use?
2. To clamp, or not to clamp. This is actually the biggest issue for me. Like all of us, I have too many clamps, and never enough, of course. My friend doesn't clamp at all. He just rubs the joint, and puts it aside. He says that as the glue hardens and dries, it pulls the boards together.
3. Put it in the fridge when not in use? In the fridge, how long will it last? This is a real question for me, since my buddy has about 50 lbs, and gave me some, but it was contaminated with sand, it seems. He is a tile contractor and one of his guys must have thought the gunny sack of glue was sand, so added some. So, after discovering that, I made some up, got it quite liquid, and strained it with a cone style of paint strainer. Worked fine. Now I have about a gallon of glue, dry, and was thinking of making up a bunch, straining it, and then putting it up in several ounce packs, in baggies, and storing in my shop's beer cooler. how long will it last like that?
4. When I thin it as I am using it, do I need to add hot water, or is room temp OK?
5. Save it from day to day? Frid, and my buddy, do so; Peter Cooper says no.
6. What else should I know that I didn't ask about?
Thanks for any advice or help.
Alan