Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Aaron H on August 20, 2016, 06:44:53 am

Title: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Aaron H on August 20, 2016, 06:44:53 am

I made up a new batch of pitch glue yesterday and I think it may be a bit soft.  I was told that ideally you should be able to just leave a small thumbnail impression in it when it is at room temperature.  With fair pressure this is what my thumbnail impression looks like.

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Aaron H on August 20, 2016, 06:48:41 am

This is a mixture of (soft) pine resin, a small amount of beeswax, charcoal, and rabbit droppings.

My best guess would be about 4:1 pine resin to beeswax

The pine resin was very malleable before I cooked it down, and I never reached boiling, which I heard only makes it brittle.

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: PaulN/KS on August 20, 2016, 07:55:07 am

Maybe add bit more bees wax to the mix?
 Oh, and trim your nails..  :)  ;)

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Redhand on August 20, 2016, 08:13:36 am

I use hard pine resin to make my glue. I used the soft resin before and it wouldn't harden up especially in the warmer temperatures it just stayed soft.

Runny or soft resin was used as a paint binder and on the back of sinew backed bows to help protect the sinew from moisture.

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Hummingbird Point on August 20, 2016, 08:18:52 am

Either get some hard, crunchy pitch and add it to the mix by melting the two together,  or re- cook a while to drive off the turpentine in the current batch.

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Aaron H on August 20, 2016, 08:46:27 am

Haha, thanks Paul
Thanks Redhand, yea I was afraid of it not getting hard enough during the warmer weather
Hummingbird- I was thinking about heating it longer too.  Hadn't thought about adding the hard resin to the mix, that's a good idea also

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Pat B on August 20, 2016, 08:51:54 am

Start with hard, brittle pitch. Add enough bees wax to make it less brittle and the charcoal(or dried rabbit, deer pellets) to add body.

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Aaron H on August 20, 2016, 01:17:29 pm

Right on, thanks Pat

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Pappy on August 22, 2016, 05:27:22 am

Add more droppings or charcoal. I mix up a batch and then drop a spot on a sheet of paper, if you bend it and it breaks[to brittle] add more wax, if it is to soft or sticky add more filler[ droppings or charcoal]
Pappy

Title: Re: Pitch glue too soft
Post by: Aaron H on August 22, 2016, 09:33:29 am

Well I re-heated the pitch glue, let it simmer for a few more minutes to burn off more of the turpentine, and I added a bit more droppings.   Worked great, now it just leaves a small nail impression at room temperature.  Thanks everyone