Hide Glue Concern

[Keith Ambridge]

I'm new to hide glue, I've just used it on a pair of Greek Baglamas.

I'm doing a neck reset on my 65 Hofner violin bass and I should realy use hide glue again I guess.

My concern is, that my glue brush from the last job (about 2 months ago) is soft and rubbery not hard and brittle.

Any Ideas?

Keith.

[Waddy Thomson]

What hide glue - Hot Hide Glue, or a bottled hide glue? If it was something like Old Brown Glue or Franklin's Liquid Hide Glue, I would not be surprised. Hot Hide Glue, I'm very surprised, though it does have a tendancy when very thick to gel to a gelatinous state more than a glass-like hardness. Wen spread thin as in a joint, it's more likely to dry hard and brittle. Best way to test is with a couple of pieces of scrap. Glue 'em up, let it dry, break 'em apart. You can also spread a thin layer on a sheet of waxed paper and let it dry. That should be brittle.

[Keith Ambridge]

Thanks Waddy,

I do mean hot hide glue!

I will do the tests you suggest to put my mind at rest.

[Mario Proulx]

It's all good, except your brush... <g>

When the glue is that thick, it can begin to go bad before it completely dries up, and then the bacteria just slowly breaks it all down, which is why the 2-month old glue in your brush is soft. Just make a new batch, and get a new brush, and make sure to wash the brush completely before putting it away next time if you think it'll be more than a few days before you need it again.

[Keith Ambridge]

Thanks Mario, that explains all.