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Freezing hide glue

  • 1.  Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-27-2023 19:37

    I hate throwing away unused hot hide glue. I tried freezing it, thawing, heating and using again. It worked just like it was supposed to and seemed to set and hold exactly the same. Are there long term drawbacks to this? I've also not had any in the freezer for more than a week or so. Thoughts



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    Tim Foster RPT
    New Oxford PA
    (470) 231-6074
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  • 2.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-27-2023 20:51

    Tim,

    I don't think you need to freeze it. I simply keep it in the fridge in a glass jar. When I need fast glue I just pop it into the glue pot (maybe a few seconds in the microwave first) and it's ready for action. 

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-27-2023 23:10

    I don't know that much about hot glue but I have been told by more than one old timer that reheated hot glue looses a lot of its strength. Maybe that's a myth.



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-28-2023 01:54
    Hide glue can lose it's strength if it is overheated. The only problem I have found is the glue in the fridge sometimes develops a mold. I have cut out that portion and used the "good" part, but not for places that need full strength-I don't know that it has been weakened, but I try to error on the side of caution.
    You do realize that there are different "strengths" of hide glue? Lots of information on the WEB.
    I do have one friend who has been using hide glue for decades, and he doesn't refrigerate it and just heats it up and "goes to town" with it. Adds more water if it gets too thick, and adds more crystals if its getting low in the pot.
    BTW, I found a Wax Warmer (for skin care) with a temperature adjustment, and a lift out pot just like the "real thing" glue pots and really love it-think I paid under $25 for it too.  A plastic coffee can lid just fits over it nicely, so I put a 1" or so hole in it for my gluing brush to keep the glue from evaporating much while I'm using it, and the metal lid that came with the pot fits right over it for when I take a break (I take the brush out and leave it in some water when I do this-it's ready to go when I get back from my break, and the glue is too!
    David Dewey



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  • 5.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-28-2023 13:23
    I generally will make a new batch for hanging hammers. I put leftovers in the freezer because I’ve gotten mold when just in the fridge.


    Joe Wiencek
    NYC


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  • 6.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-28-2023 06:40

    Tim

    I don't even worry about putting it in the freezer. I let it dry in the shop after use, and then reheat ( and add water) to reuse when needed.  I usually end up adding crystals to make sure the viscosity is what I'm looking for.

    I've been doing this way for 40+ yrs. without issues of glue not adhering correctly. 

     

    Tom Servinsky 

    Registered Piano Technician

    Concert Artist Piano Technician

    Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra

    Managing Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony

    Keyboardist- Beatles Re-Imagined

    Pianist with TLC Jazz Duo

    tompiano@tomservinsky.com

    772 221 1011 office

    772 260 7110 cell

     




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  • 7.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Member
    Posted 08-28-2023 10:13
    I used to refrigerate (not freeze) but I no longer bother. I use it nearly daily, leave it out covered when not in use, add crystals and H2O as needed...for a month or so.  At some point I decide a new batch should be made.

    For most of our applications there is no need to worry about diminishing strength with reheating. If you are doing a job requiring high "structural/stress" adhesion, make a fresh batch.

    Debra



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-29-2023 06:21

    I should add that my primary use for hot hide glue is for key bushings and hammer hanging.  However, if it was for a structural component, then I would start with a new batch. But for felts and hammer moldings, I've yet to have glue failure with this set up for decades.

     

    Tom Servinsky 

    Registered Piano Technician

    Concert Artist Piano Technician

    Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra

    Managing Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony

    Keyboardist- Beatles Re-Imagined

    Pianist with TLC Jazz Duo

    tompiano@tomservinsky.com

    772 221 1011 office

    772 260 7110 cell

     




    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-28-2023 08:51

    A couple of years ago, Vince Myralko wrote an article in the Journal about storing small amounts of high glue in the refrigerator. He restored them in a small double boiler and hot plate from he got from Lee Valley. He suggested it as a way to carry high glue easily to offsite appointments. I've been looking for the article but can't find it. If anybody knows what issues it's in I'd love to know.



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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-29-2023 01:33

    I use 1/2 pint jelly jars to mix and store my hide glue.  I refrigerate batches but throw the batch away if it develops mold.  If I need high strength I would make a fresh batch, but for felts, hammers or most other parts a stored batch should be fine.

    I remember as a young child going on jobs with my grandfather.  He had a stove made from a tin can that he set up with a candle in the bottom of uprights and added water to the correct consistency, but I don't remember him doing anything to store it, the glue just dried until the next use.  I can recall my dad buying him a real glue pot and stove to replace the tin can.

    That was probably 60 years ago.



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    Blaine Hebert RPT
    Duarte CA
    (626) 795-5170
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-29-2023 10:29

    A few years ago, I did some experiments with left-over, refrigerated hide glue. I took some in a squeeze bottle and microwaved it for about 30 seconds or less, then used it to glued strips of felt to wood. I figured maybe I could travel with it and heat it in a customer's microwave. I was able to reheat the same batch up to about 10 times before my felt-wood test started to fail.

    I never did take hide glue on the road (I have used fish glue though), but it was fun to experiment.



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    Scott Cole, RPT
    rvpianotuner.com
    Talent, OR
    (541-601-9033
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Freezing hide glue

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2023 21:00

    Thank you everyone, your comments are very informative as usual!



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    Tim Foster RPT
    New Oxford PA
    (470) 231-6074
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    Original Message