Back to Hide Glue - was: AcryliKey II Feedback - Afterwards

[Farrell]

Hi Clyde. I might be stretching my expertise a bit here, but I think I'm on
the right track. The recent post that indicated that if the hide glue has
not been "attacked by mold", it should still be good, was referring to glue
still in the pot and that it can still be used for gluing something. It was
not referring to glue that has been applied and has dried. I don't think
mold is a problem on hide glue that has dried.

Your questions are good. I presume hide glue was often used on jack flanges.
I guess hide glue has a well documented history of moving toward failure
after 70 or so years (jack flanges, loose bridges, detached soundboards and
ribs, etc.). I wonder what it is that happens to hide glue with age that
causes failure?

I've had a glue pot for a couple years, but only tried the hot glue once.
What a sticky mess! But I guess I need to get it under control because I
want to be using the appropriate glue for key bushings, etc.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 6:34 AM
Subject: Re: AcryliKey II Feedback - Afterwards


> JD,
>
> Well, now we got this thread going on glue, too!  :-)  Your response
> raised a question in my mind.  What kind of glue was used in the old
> uprights to glue in the jack flanges?  The ones that on some pianos come
> loose because they've lost their holding power?  Is that hide glue
> "attacked by mold," or something else?
>
> Regards,
> Clyde
>
> John Delacour wrote:
>
> > At 12:50 PM -0600 11/13/01, Mike and Jane Spalding wrote:
> >
> > >  The only ones I couldn't do this way had been gucked up with Duco
> > >or Superglue in a previous repair, on these I scraped off all the
> > >old glue and used a new wafer.  The bond seems totally secure right
> > >now, but I'm wondering how long they'll stay attached.  Anyone got
> > >some long-term experience with rewetting the old glue?
> >
> > Hide glue used by the Ancient Egyptians is still doing its job.  So
> > long as no mould has attacked the glue it is as good as new.  For
> > sticking ivories you can mix thin fresh glue with titanium dioxide to
> > get a very dense white.  No other white, such as the chalks is any
> > use at all.
> >
> > JD
>
>
>