Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on November 25, 2025, 12:43:19 am

Title: stinky gelatin/hide glue
Post by: WhistlingBadger on November 25, 2025, 12:43:19 am
I backed my latest project with sinew and Knox gelatin.  The dry powder and cold water mix are odorless, but when warmed up it smelled bad.  Not rotten cow bad; more like bottom of a stagnant puddle bad.  Not something I'd want to eat. 

I've read that hide glue contaminated with bacteria can smell unpleasant, so I bought a different kind, Medley Hills Farm unflavored gelatin off Amazon.  Just mixed some up to glue on a tip overlay, and it has the same smell.

Does this mean anything?  Is the glue still strong?  Does all unflavored gelatin smell like this?  (They wouldn't sell a lot of jello if it did)  It quits smelling as soon as it drys out, so I can live with it if it still works. 
Title: Re: stinky gelatin/hide glue
Post by: sleek on November 25, 2025, 01:44:01 am
I think thats fairly normal. Has a burnt skin smell to it almost.