cherry pitch?

[Ed Brooks]

I guess my addiction is contagous. My son came home with a bag of cherry pitch for me. My question is there any use for it? Thanks for looking. Ed

[RBLusthaus]

not that I am aware of.  I tried to make glue or varnish from it, but the pitch would not melt down - - it remained gummy till burning.  Too many pine trees around to mess with that stuff any further, so into the compost pile it went. 

[Pat B]

Ed, see if it dissolves in alcohol. If so you should be able to make varnish.

[Ed Brooks]

Thanks for the replys. Pat is rubbing alcohol good enough to try? Ed

[mullet]

Citrus sap doesn't melt down either. We used to chew it like gum when I was younger.

[Pat B]

It should Ed. Any solvent should work.

[aaron]

I have used cherry sap successfully to mount points and haft knives. I soaked it in water until it had become flexible, then haft and let dry. If it gets too dry it becomes brittle, but can be softened by wetting. So, no heat, nothing to mix , just add water.
This should work with other fruit tree saps too. I want to try some quince sap I got recently.

[Ed Brooks]

Thanks for the feed back guys. Ill give the alchol and water a try. Ed

[Pat B]

Ed, the cherry sap may have to dehydrate before the alcohol will work, but I don't know that as a fact.