Hot Glue, Brush Management

[Richard Moody]

> I'm not certain which list I read this on, but a few weeks ago someone
> mentioned
> that 'way back when' in the factory, the assemblers floated a piece of
wood in
> the glue pot for dipping the parts into.

This was on MMD  I am sure.  The poster knew a fellow who worked in a radio
factory in the cabinet dept.
>
> In my scrap wood box I just happened to have a small piece which fit
> comfortably
> into the jar in the glue pot. This supported the brush and a gentle push
> submerged
> the wood to bring fresh glue to the surface with the resurfacing wood.
> Long lost technology.
> Jon Page,   piano technician


Hmmmm I will give it a try.  I like the "solder's" brushes with the metal
handle that cost about 75 cents.  I would think the wood floating on top
would make the skim of the glue even more pesky.  The only way I know to
avoid this skim is to have the glue deep in the pot and very hot, or a top.
With the top and a hole a brush is stuck through and a cross nail keeps it
at the right depth in the pot.  I never worried about that though because
with a brush you usually need at least three or four brush loads and have to
work fast with a lot, so the brush is let to the bottom and vigorusly
stirred when needed and that gives the most glue with the most consistancy.
I like the glue from the bottom of the pot. Also that way you can tell when
the glue needs more water as that is always evaporating. You need to
frequently let glue drip from the brush back into the pot to determine the
consistancy and temperature. For very small anounts I use unbent paper clips
or tooth picks.
    I really liked the suggestion you mentioned because I still do recover
with rubber cloth sometimes.   So next time I will try the floating wood and
put the edge(s) (hehe get the picture?) of the pneumatic on it and hope for
the quick magic coating of glue. Anything to beat brushing it on!.  I will
need a diff set up, I have never used a glue pot wider than an drinking
glass execpt my teacher's which was only 5 or 6 inches wide ---ric