The Singular Advantage of Liquid Hide Glue

When comparing liquid hide glue to hot hide glue, as the former is a derivative from the original, the only advantage is the open time before it sets up. The time it takes for it to fully cure can take 18-24 hours depending on the humidity. This can be a disadvantage when glueing veneer because the veneer has an extended period of time to soak up its moisture and must be clamped until it has dried which means any squeeze thru will have dried too. In certain cases it is the only alternative when glueing large surfaces. There are other cold-set glues that are also available, but this post will deal with hide glue as an organic adhesive. 

 Other than the above advantage, it cannot excel in any task that hot hide glue can. Glue joint strength is not any better. It will not bond to itself unless heated. For restoration and multifaceted piece work it is too time consuming and creep resistance is marginal under the wrong circumstances. In glueing marquetry, if the exterior is not taped up you will have squeeze out amoung the joints. These will have to be cleaned up after unclamping. Not a fun chore. That is not to say I do not find it useful in glueing large surfaces. One product I have found superior to others is Franklin Liquid Hide Glue. This was the first that appeared on the market. It comes with an expiration date and I have used it 6 months after it expired with good results. Do not try that with other cold hide glues that are available. 

 In contrast, hot hide glue has a quick tack and good gap filling properties. It will set in a matter of minutes and requires minimal clamping beyond that unless you're apprehensive. Any squeeze out can be scraped off after it has gelled. Has no glue line and the best part is it never gets old. Just heat and reconstitute with water. I've edge veneered marquetry in a matter of minutes. I have even added a mitered border around a marquetry picture using only a straight edge, knife and a 45 degree miter gauge in less than an hour. Fast and perfect miters. I do not claim to have invented the technique, but neither have I seen it ever done by anyone other than myself. And you will not find it in any marquetry book. Sometimes a task becomes easier by using hot hide glue as in the example below.

The circular cross banding was inlayed by such a method. First, the oval border was routed out using a laminate trimmer and a template guide. Tulipwood was used for the cross banding, but to give the appearance of a circular curvature only one inch of veneer was inlayed at a time. Working on one section of the oval while another was setting up with hot glue allowed me to work in an orderly fashion. The whole process took just over an hour saving me several days of clamping time. 

 I have always felt that one should adopt oneself to the medium you are using. There are many more applications where hot hide glue can be useful. It makes a fast wood filler. Veneer can be sized and flattened. Can even be used as a finish. Cabinetmakers and instrument makers use it. I even know a bookbinder who uses nothing else. All that is needed is a glue pot and a brush. Most woodworkers are set in their ways. Once they learn a technique, change is not an option to them. I guess I'm guilty of this because in all the years of creating marquetry using hide glue not one has delaminated. Sometimes the old way of your forefathers is the best way and in my case the only way.

Posting Again

Have not posted on this blog in a number of years and thought of the many visitors seeking information concerning the craft of marquetry. Retirement has kept me busy with my many endeavors, but marquetry remains my favorite pastime. Currently, I am restoring lost images on this blog that, for one reason or another, were lost. Comments were disabled years ago because some people were disrespectful by abusing the service to promote their views. Some of these individuals are no longer around.

During the past few years I have seen a few changes in the craft. One is that it has become more of a mechanical craft and less of a handcraft. Scrollsawers abound with no knowledge of a fretsaw or knife.  Today, learning marquetry in a class or workshop can cost large sums of money and very few will create enough art to recoup their investment. When I was President of the local marquetry group, I taught the craft with hand held tools which I furnished to students for the cost of veneer and a cup of coffee. I always thought that marquetry should be portable and utilized anywhere, anytime. I have been known to execute marquetry while camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with none other than knife, veneer and cutting board. Gone are the days of simplicity.

One thing that has not changed is the perception that you can earn a living at marquetry. I know of no one who does that in this day and age without relying on other forms of woodworking. That's not to say you can't make money at the craft. It's possible as a supplemental income. The determining factors usually come down to how it's made and pricing with specialization a plus. Gallery's are a dubious source for selling by consignment. Art fairs is one option. I know of one craftsman who made a nice income at a renaissance festival, but that's only 2 months of selling with 10 months of crafting.

After 30+ years in marquetry, I only do commissions and those pieces that spark my creativity. Sometimes I see something that looks challenging. My effort displayed in the photo above. This is Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper measuring 15"by 30" using various veneers of domestic origin. Marquetry should be enjoyable and rewarding.