Hide glue

[superdav95]

Hello all.  I decided to try something new on my next batch of hide glue.  Anyone ever try this… I’ve got this crock pot that has a keep warm setting on it so I tested out the temps filled with water and it was around 60 degrees.   I thought we’ll that’s convenient!  I figured that was a good temp for making hide glue.  I gathered up a bunch of my scrap pieces and started slow cooking it first pic is after day one the next is after day two.  I tested to see if it gels and it did.  Still gonna let it go for another day of so.  If this works then this will be the easiest hide glue I’ve ever made!   Let me know your thoughts and if anyone has tried this. 

[bjrogg]

I have zero experience making hide glue but it’s something I want to do this winter yet.

I would have thought that 60 degrees would have only been warm enough to make it rot .

I will be watching

Bjrogg

PS if I use one of my wife’s crockpots can it be cleaned up good enough for her to use again? Or will I just have to buy her a new one?

[osage outlaw]

I have zero experience making hide glue but it’s something I want to do this winter yet.

I would have thought that 60 degrees would have only been warm enough to make it rot .

I will be watching

Bjrogg

PS if I use one of my wife’s crockpots can it be cleaned up good enough for her to use again? Or will I just have to buy her a new one?

BJ, it might be 60 degrees C.  That would be around 140 degrees F

[bjrogg]

Okay that makes sense.

I don’t have experience with hide glue but I do have some experience with hides.lol even a few stinky ones.

Bjrogg

[superdav95]

I’ll post pics of final glue and let y’all know if it works. 

[Eric Krewson]

I have a crock pot I bought at thrift store to use as a hot water container to float my bowl of hide glue in, I paid $2 for it. Every thrift store I have been to had a bunch of crock pots for almost give away prices.

[uwe]

Hi Eric,
What is a crock pot? I`m from North Germany and don`t know the meaning.
Cheers
Uwe

[Selfbowman]

This is what I use

[Pat B]

UWE, a crock pot is a slow cooker, low temps for extended periods of time. Put supper in it in the morning and it's ready to eat for supper.

 Eric, I got an expensive version of a crock pot, $5 from good will.

Dave, I use a crock pot to make the hide glue I used on my newest sinew backed bow. It was my first attempt and so far so good, although I haven't strained the bow since I sinew backed it.

[JW_Halverson]

You might get a little more conversion if you turn it up and monitor it closely. In my experience 180F/82C is about as high as you want to go. Higher temps WILL extract more, but I feel you lose strength, too.

[superdav95]

You might get a little more conversion if you turn it up and monitor it closely. In my experience 180F/82C is about as high as you want to go. Higher temps WILL extract more, but I feel you lose strength, too.

Yes.  I’m curious to see how it works out.  Sounds like others here have tried it so that’s a good sign.  This particular crock pot or slow cooker has a “keep warm” setting which doesn’t get over 62 degrees.  When I make my sturgeon glue I don’t let it get past 65.  For that I just used a large stock pot on a single burner on low and monitor it closely.  I had to play with it a bit but once you get it set you can walk away from it but would never leave it overnight like I have been doing with this sinew glue batch. 

I decided to try something else too.  I took my brawn mixer and purée the mix of soft bit until all chopped up small bits.  I’m gonna let this sit and stew at the 60 degrees one more day and call it good.   The great thing about doing it with the crock pot is the convenience of it with being able to let it go overnight.  It’s gonna be a lot of glue which is nice and not as labor intensive as before. 

[willie]

if I use one of my wife’s crockpots can it be cleaned up good enough for her to use again? Or will I just have to buy her a new one?

if you just start out by buying her a new one, your day will end with an attaboy instead of an Oh S#!%

The great thing about doing it with the crock pot is the convenience of it with being able to let it go overnight.  It’s gonna be a lot of glue which is nice and not as labor intensive as before. 

you might be able to make it run a bit warmer at the "warm" setting with a towel over the top. ie experiment with some light insulation. maybe inside a cardboard box also

[bradsmith2010]

you could make jello too

[Del the cat]

I bought a small deepfat fryer and spot clibrated for hide glue:-
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2010/04/glueing-up-ashcherry-bow.html
Del

[bjrogg]

if I use one of my wife’s crockpots can it be cleaned up good enough for her to use again? Or will I just have to buy her a new one?

if you just start out by buying her a new one, your day will end with an attaboy instead of an Oh S#!%


Thanks Willie. I’m usually a Oh $@it kinda guy. You know. Better to beg for forgiveness than to plead for permission.

In this case I might consider your option though.lol

Bjrogg