Hey all, Kale here. The other day when Chris asked me to document our Piggly No Wiggly glue-making process, I may have taken the task a little too seriously. I have no regrets.
After receiving interest from readers about how our Piggly No Wiggly glue is made, we decided to share our operation. The video above documents our glue procedure from beginning to end, with some words from Chris about how it came to be.
But wait, there’s more. Per y’alls suggestions, a “bundle and save” option has been added to our online store – meaning, the more you buy, the more you save. One 8 oz. bottle of Piggly No Wiggly is $16, two is $29 and three is $42. There’s a drop-down option on the store’s landing page where you choose your number of bottles.
It’s a little thank you from us for the continued support and a reminder that, yes, we do read your comments.
– Kale Vogt
Living in the Arizona desert, I will simply put the bottle in the sun outside the shop before use. Will be forced to actually heat it up in January and February, when temperatures can plummet (into the 50’s) during the day.
Buying three bottles! Thanks for the video.
If I live in a region that gets hot and humid in the summer, is using hide glue inadvisable? The fear that my joints would come unglued each summer has scared me from trying it out.
Changing weather makes it hard to say. Twenty years ago, I’d have responded: no problem. But it’s a runny liquid at around 120°F, so maybe it’s a risk? I guess it depends on the conditions in which it will live. HVAC? will likely be fine. In a non-air-conditioned space? Maybe not.
Regrettably, my environment is tropical, with living conditions similar to Tom’s. I’ve always used hide glue (HHG) and have had mixed results—some items have held up well, while others have fallen apart. The most embarrassing incident occurred when a customer received a bookstand that had come unglued in the box due to glue failure. I later learned from one of Chris’s articles, though I can’t recall exactly where, that hide glue isn’t suitable for all climates. Since that day, I switched to PVA glue and haven’t experienced any glue failures since. However, I still miss using HHG. There is a certain romance to reminiscing with the yesteryears of prepping and heating the stuff.
I had similar concerns about a project living in my garage that gets hot. I called titebond (I was using their liquid hide glue) and the lady told me the heat would have to be at x temperature for x minutes for it to loosen. It was safe for my needs.
Now, I’m hearing a Hewy Lewis and News song in my head.
Yes, it’s true (yes, it’s true)
I’m so happy to be….
It uses the same chemistry that has been in use for 3,000 years (at least). We feel confident it works.
If I recall, they have found items using hide glue in Egyptian tombs with it still working. I like hide glue as well. I switched to it mostly because I appreciate the longer open time which helps to destress glue ups if that is possible.
I whipped up a batch of glue based on the recipe in American Peasant, but I must’ve messed up somehow. The glue is still quite liquid a couple of hours after assembly and takes about a day to set up properly. After that, though, it is rock solid.
Did I put in too much salt? What else could be the problem?
I’m having the same thing happen. Curious about what could be the cause.
In a 72° shop, our glue gets rubbery after about 20 minutes (this is when it hits its gel point). Then it slowly hardens to rock hard overnight as the water evaporates.
When you say “quite liquid” do you mean it is as loose as it is in the bottle? Liquid hide glues don’t behave like PVAs, so sometimes it is resetting expectations. But it also could be a little too much salt.
What if I like my glue to smell like wet gym socks? Just kidding. This is awesome. Will definitely buy a batch once I use up the last of my hide glue flakes. Well done!
What is the advantage of gelatin rather than hide glue crystals? Imagine hide crystals are mostly gelatin. Thanks!
They are both collagen and are made using the same process. Gelatin has been refined a little more to remove the color.
So pleased to see (I think) some Lagunitas IPA in the fridge 🙂 They’re just down the road from us in Petaluma, CA. My go-to in the shop (after working, of course).
Twice boiled, Never spoiled
You’ll squeal with delight
Maybe someday your labels will be as crowded as a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s…