ANST - Period Paste and Glue

[Brendan McEwan]

Not true.  Hide glue dries hard enough to chip chisels.  Hide glue can
also be softened and removed with water.  That is why it is still used
in instruments today.  A good supplier for hide glue is in an ad in Fine
Woodworking.  It is mixed with approximately equal parts water and glue
flakes and heated to 190 degrees.  Too hot and it ruins the glue
ability, too cold and it thickens.  If the glue set too quickly, it can
be reheated using a damp cloth and an iron.  I've used this stuff
exclusively in the lutes I've built and it is tough stuff, fully
documentable.

Brendan McEwan
Steppes, Ansteorra

Jax wrote:
> 
> I've seen a lot of posts on period glues, but none on plain ole' paste.
> 
> The basic difference between paste and glue is that paste dries hard,
> while glue stays more flexible. Also, glue provides better
> water-resistance; dry paste that gets wet will often revert to wet paste.
> This tendency can be alleviated with a finishing application of wax or
> varnish.
> 
> Paste also works better w/ surfaces that are at least partially porous.
> Paper and cardboards are the best applications. But paste also works well
> w/ leathers, cloth, and soft woods. And you can try it on everything. Use
> a sample first, of course, before trying it on important projects!
> 
> One last caveat: Materials that are pasted my tend to curl while drying.
> (Paste dries completely.) When pasting papers and leathers, they should
> be firmly pressed flat (or whatever) until they are completely dry.
> 
> Here is a recipe for a simple flour paste:
> 
>  Flour paste
> 
> 1 cup flour
> 1 cup cold water
> 4-5 cups boiling water.
> 
> Put the flour in a saucepan and gradually add the cold water, stirring
> until all lumps are gone. Look for a whole milk sort of consistancy
> (Thick paste is a very commen error. It can be thinned w/ water at any
> time.) Slowly add the boiling water and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring
> constantly. Let cool. You can also add a few drops of clove oil to
> discourage mildew and to act as a preservative.
> 
> Hope that helps,
> -Erik Wulfriksson-
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