Comments on: Strong as the Union: Franklin Liquid Hide Glue

By: WilliamDavis

WilliamDavis — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:00:48 +0000

I just noticed that the OBG site strongly recommends against the microwave trick. I wonder why and if it applies to Titebond. Since there is also a warning of not exceeding 160 degrees, maybe the hot-spotting in microwave ovens is the concern. 13 seconds ought to be safe though.
http://www.oldbrownglue.com/faq-and-info.html

By: TobyC

TobyC — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:54:31 +0000

The first time I used it was to re-install the bridge on an acoustic guitar. Easy to use, easy to clean up squeeze-out, great stuff. There is a lot of tension on a guitar bridge, constantly trying to pull it off, my bridge is still there, still solid, and that was many years ago. It does dry completely, and it is strong. To satisfy my curiosity, before I glued that bridge, I took two 1X3s, about a foot long, and overlapped the ends about an inch, glued and clamped them together overnight. I tried to break the glue joint apart, but broke the wood, the joint was stronger than the wood. I can’t recommend it enough, and I don’t think I will live long enough to see my bridge fail. I have been using it ever since for interior applications, with no failures or complaints.

Toby

By: chris k.

chris k. — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 14:10:06 +0000

Went to my True Value today to buy some, all three bottles had expired in June 2012. I hope to buy some next week when they get some new bottles in.

By: watermantra

watermantra — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 05:29:40 +0000

Just have to put one more vote in for Old Brown Glue. I love the slipperyness of the initial glue-up. It makes tight parts go together better, as someone said. Clean up is awesome, as you can re-wet it even when cured. It’s never failed for me on any joint (it doesn’t fill gaps well, so get that joinery tight!), my glue ups are a little less stressed, and yesterday I used it for the first time for veneering. It’s SOOO much better than the contact cement method I was using before for such projects. We’ll see about it’s effectiveness long term for that, but it’s been used for centuries for veneering, so I’m pretty confident. I have no experience with the Franklin stuff. I’ve also never had a bottle go bad…I use it too fast!

Question for someone more knowledgeable…does it work for manufactured products like MDF and Masonite?

By: andrae

andrae — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:04:34 +0000

The Egyptians used hide glue, and possibly fish glue as well. But they also frequently pegged their mortise and tenon joints.

Polyvinyl acetate was discovered in 1912 in Germany and commercialized there maybe in the late 1920′s. But PVA glue was not widely available in the US until around World War II. So we’re not quite to the point of determining whether or not PVA glue will consistently last more than 75 to 100 years…

By: Bones

Bones — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:44:32 +0000

Nothing has been said about “longevity” yet.
I have recently repaired some items, about 75 to 100 years old, built with hide glue that simply failed at the glueline. The glue seemed to have dried out and ‘crumbled’ – tiny bits of hard dust/chips. Mortices and all surfaces seemed to have been well done, smooth and tight.
Is there any information on that potential problem ?
What did the Egyptians use ?

By: John Walkowiak

John Walkowiak — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:12:00 +0000

Liquid hide glue will last longer if it is kept in the refrigerator. I have heard that some freeze it is small blocks but I have not tried that. Regarding using it in a hot climate. If the glue is in the joint the heat and humidity can’t get to it to soften it, so no worries.

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:38:53 +0000

Richard,

Old Brown Glue is great. I use it when I have it so that I can support Patrick Edwards. But I use a lot of glue in all my classes and building. And sometimes I run out. The Franklin stuff is a 5-minute walk from my house.

Plus, for me at least, Franklin is a local company right up the road in Columbus. So I am supporting the local guys.

Functionally, I don’t see a lot of differences in the two glues, but perhaps I am not as tuned in to some of the specialty applications. The Old Brown is usually thicker than the Titebond, but that’s not always the case and it’s not a big deal.

By: Richard Dawson

Richard Dawson — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:31:52 +0000

Chris,

Franklin hide glue does the job and I am very happy with it. However, I was wondering what differences you see between the Franklin product and Old Brown Glue. Given that glue is a relatively minor expense, my inclination is to go with OBG because Patrick Edwards is a small company and I, as do most users of hand tools prefer to support the little guy.

Your thoughts?

Thanks,

Richard

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:28:30 +0000

Brian,

I buy the small bottles and have about a year to use them. I’ve never had one expire. If you get one that is about to expire, take it back and ask for a fresh one. The stores are happy to exchange if they messed up and sold you a bad bottle.