A Very 'sticky' Question

[OutBackP]

Supplier in the uk

http://www.axminster.co.uk/pearl-glue-dept812862_pg1

[MikeCahill]

As one of two of you may know, I'm interested in the history of leatherworking and using old techniques (sometimes with a modern spin). Right now I'm researching old fashioned glues and pastes. If you have any information and/or recipes I'd be most grateful to know more.

I do have a couple of specific questions:

Does anyone know how to make old fashioned 'rabbit glue'? I believe it might have been made from rabbit skins but can't imagine how. Is it the same as the 'hot' wood glue used by cabinet makers?

Does anyone know what sort of glue or paste was used by book-binders to stick leather to paper? Is there a modern equivalent?

Cheers,

Ray

If you are using rabbit or pearl glue remember you need a double glue pot with water in the outside pan, never apply direct heat to pearl glue, it burns, and as for bookbinding I think they use a corn starch paste, just corn flour like you use to thicken gravy and water

cheers

Mike

[UKRay]

Any idea how they mixed that corn starch paste, Mike? Quantities, etc?

I'm happy to experiment but if you have a recipe... well, you know what I mean!

Ray

Supplier in the uk

http://www.axminster...-dept812862_pg1

Thanks Paul and Cem. very helpful.

Ray

Ray, It appears Elmer is a happy bull. You can tell that he is a bull because he has a ring in his nose, NOT because he has horns. Cows can have horns too! (Working hard to dispel another urban myth...)

Denise, I could have looked at that bottle for ages without noticing that. LOL

http://www.woodcraft...2086/Glues.aspx

Thanks, Dave.

Ray

[MikeCahill]

Any idea how they mixed that corn starch paste, Mike? Quantities, etc?

I'm happy to experiment but if you have a recipe... well, you know what I mean!

Ray

I have a bootmaker friend who uses it, I'll have a word with him and get back to you, but I'm sure someone else will have given you the answers by then

cheers

Mike

[UKRay]

Any joy with that corn starch recipe, Mike?

Ray

[CDragonworks]

Ray,

I do not know about Rabbit glue(sounds yucky like horse hide and hoof glues) but what I use is water based Liquid Stitch for my soft leather and Elmer's(or equivalent) waterproof wood glue for the harder ones. Both work well dry fast and allow you to move it around till you get it right...and yes it does need to be held down till it sets some but hey are we really in that big a hurry!

[moeg]

Hi Ray,

if you download this pdf and go to page 233 you'll find a lot of different recipes that were used a while back

The art of shoe and bootmaking

the picture shows a list of the receipts.

Moe.

[sheridanman]

hi Ray

here in the philippines there is a glue here used and is i think the cornstarch thing we are talking about here. i remember making them as glue to use for covering my school books. its like goo when mixed with boiling water. it has a whitish tansparency characteristic and is like a white slime same stuff you see on rubber trees and sticks up and hardens after application. its easy as one two three to make as it comes in powdered form and just mix it with boiling H20. but its not basically cornstarch. it just happens to look like one so people here call it cornstarch when they talk about it. its old school stuff and my grandma used to use it a lot on fabrics when i spent time at here home. very common here.

[UKRay]

You guys are outstanding! Many thanks for all the help.

The cornstarch glue is exactly what I'm trying to find out about. I have a very delicate restoration job in mind and want to use the same (or very similar) materials to those used by the original craftsman several hundred years ago. I have been experimenting with all kinds of wallpaper paste but I keep coming back to the old starch based recipes - but I'm still not certain I've got it right as my paper doesn't stick to my leather as well as it should. There could be an extra ingredient I haven't worked out yet but, hey - I'm a patient man! LOL

If anyone has any other suggestions then please fire away - I'm keen to try almost anything sticky that would have been around in the 14th / 15th centuries.

Ray

[rdb]

As kids, we used to eat glue. Back then things were safer, not so much chemicals. Any who, here's some receipts from

http://www.canteach.ca/index.html

The library paste one sounds right, i think

Glue & Paste Recipes

Homemade Glue

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp. corn syrup
• 1 tsp. white vinegar
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 3/4 cup cold water

Method:
Mix water, syrup and vinegar in saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. In small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water. Add this mixture slowly to first mixture. Stir constantly. Let stand overnight before using.
Waterproof Glue
Ingredients:

• 2 packets (1/2 ounce) unflavored gelatin
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 3 tablespoons skimmed milk
• few drops of wintergreen oil (optional)

Method:

In a small bow. sprinkle gelatin over cold water and wait until softened. Pour milk into a pot and bring to a boil. Pour into softened gelatin and stir until dissolved. Add wintergreen oil (acts as a preservative) if you would like to keep it for longer than a day.

This is a good glue when you need to glue for objects other than paper.

Homemade Paste

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup flour
• cold water

Method:
Add flour to a sauce pan. Add cold water until a thick cream forms. Simmer on stove for 5 minutes.
Warning: This paste takes a long time to dry.
Library Paste
Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. alum
• 4 cups water
• 30 drops of oil of cloves

Method:

Mix all ingredients in saucepan and cook until clear and thick. Remove from heat and add drops of oil of cloves.

Clear Library Paste

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup rice flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 cup cold water
• 2 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1/2 teaspoon oil of witnergreen

Method:
Mix rice flour, sugar, and cold water in a pan until smooth. Add boiling water and bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add oil of wintergreen.
Stamp Gum
Ingredients:

• 1 packet (1/4 ounce) of unflavored gelatin
• 1 Tbs. cold water
• 3 Tbs. boiling water
• 1/2 tsp. white corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp. lemon or peppermint extract
• 2 drops boric acid solution

Method:

Sprinkle the gelatin into the cold water and wait until softened. Pour softened gelatin into the boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

When ready to use brush a little to the area that you would like it and let dry. When you need it to stick, moisten it a bit. If the gum dries up in your storage container, just scoop it out into a saucepan and heat it again.

Envelope Mucilage

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons pure white vinegar
• 4 packets (1 ounce) unflavored gelatin
• 1 tablespoon peppermint extract

Method:

Pour vinegar in a pot and bring to a boil. Add gelatin and stir until completely dissolved. Add peppermint extract and stir until thoroughly mixed.