Menushopping cart
Tools for Working Wood
Invest in your craft. Invest in yourself.

JOEL Joel's Blog

A Brush With Glue

11/17/2009

A Brush With Glue 4Last Friday we finally got around to taking the product shot for our new glue spoons (update: no longer available). Since the spoons are meant for pouring out glue and since I wasn't in the middle of actually gluing up a project, we had to specially heat up some glue, set up the shot, pour it out, and glue something together. In addition to the glue spoon I also took out a glue brush so I could compare using the spoon with the brush. (big difference - the brush is great for controlling a little glue, the spoon is awesome for getting a lot of glue out like a squeeze bottle. It was the first time I have ever used one and I think I like it a lot. Better than just a bigger glue brush.

Anyway Tim and I set up the shot. We soaked and cooked the glue, we brushed it on, we poured it out, (I once again realized how little I like my digital camera), and then we put everything away.

Because we weren't used to a glue spoon, and because the shot was staged and not part of an actual project, Tim managed to pour glue all over my perfectly nice bench stop. Needless to say I was annoyed but then I remembered that hide glue isn't like the Titebond I used to use - it washes right off.
Tim did mention that the reason he poured glue over the bench stop, not the nearby newspaper is that's where my camera seemed to be pointed to. I did mention - too late - that the camera was pointing there largely by accident and I could easily point it slightly to the left.

In any case. The glue washed right off. I unplugged and cleaned the pot and went home. It wasn't until Sunday that I realized that I NEVER WASHED THE GLUE BRUSH.
A Brush With Glue 5So that's what I did first thing Monday. A rinse in hot water and then a little detergent. It's basically good as new (this last picture is the brush after cleaning with a new, never used brush a little blurry in the background). The glue brushes aren't hugely expensive and with cleaning they last for years and there is no point in wasting them. This to me is the real charm of hide glue. I'm never gotten a titebond brush so clean. In return for the hassle of heating it hide glue up you get a super strong jointe that is easy to undo, easy to clean up after, and most important to me, is largely transparent to finishes. I came late to the party but lately I can say: I love hide glue.
Join the conversation
11/17/2009 peter
you might be amused to know that it is standard practice in the movie business
to always point the camera at the floor or a blank wall when it is not actively
being used.

reason being (as you seem to have discovered) set dressers will automatically
start trying to dress the set in front of the camera so as to get the jump on the
director or DP.
11/18/2009 Luke Townsley http://www.unpluggedshop.com
Joel,
I can't believe you are selling traditional glue spoons! I haven't ever used one (or even seen a real one), but I am in the middle of reading Stephen Shepherd's Hide Glue book, and he mentions how to use them.

I have been using hide glue for a while and really like it. I am still using PVA for most edge glue-ups for reasons of convenience and economy, I think a glue spoon would make those easier though. Hide glue really shines for joinery.

Luke
Comments are closed.
The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the blog's author and guests and in no way reflect the views of Tools for Working Wood.