Hide glue is a natural glue made from parts of animals, like skin, bones, and tendons. People have used it in woodworking for thousands of years. Even though there are many man-made glues now, hide glue is still popular with expert woodworkers, people who make musical instruments, and those who fix old furniture.
This is because hide glue is strong, easy to undo if needed, and works well with old-style materials. In this article, we’ll look at the history, how it’s made, its benefits, downsides, and how it’s used in woodworking.
What Is Hide Glue?
Hide glue is made by boiling animal parts like skin and bones to get a protein called collagen. When processed, this protein becomes a strong and bendable glue. The glue usually comes in dry forms like small grains, flakes, or sheets. To use it, you mix it with water and heat it up. As it cools, it turns into a gel.
The name “hide glue” comes from the fact that it’s made from animal hides (skins). There are other similar glues, like bone glue and fish glue, that are also made from animal proteins. People have been using hide glue since at least 8000 BC, which makes it one of the oldest glues known to humans.
Why Hide Glue Remains Relevant in Woodworking
High-Quality Joints
Strong, No-Movement Bonds:
Hide glue creates a very strong connection with the wood that doesn’t move or shift over time. This is a big advantage over many modern glues, which can slowly change shape (called “creep”). This strong, stable bond is especially important for building furniture and musical instruments.
Helps During Assembly:
When you apply hide glue, it works like a lubricant, making it easier to fit tight wood joints—like dovetails or mortise-and-tenon joints—without causing the wood to swell. Other glues, like PVA glue, can make the wood swell and make it harder to fit the pieces together.
Easy to Fix or Undo
Can Be Taken Apart:
Hide glue can be softened using heat and moisture. This makes it easy to take apart joints when you need to fix or adjust something. That’s very helpful when restoring antiques or working on musical instruments.
Bonds to Itself:
New hide glue sticks well to old hide glue. So if you’re making a repair, you don’t need to remove all the old glue. This is different from modern glues like PVA, which don’t stick well to dried glue and need a totally clean surface to work properly.
Looks and Works Great
Works Well with Finishes:
Hide glue doesn’t leave visible marks under stains or finishes, so you don’t have to worry about ugly glue spots on your finished piece. This is great for high-quality furniture and visible joints.
Cool Visual Effects:
You can also use hide glue for special effects, like making a crackle pattern under paint for a vintage or decorative look.
Good for You and the Environment
Safe and Natural:
Hide glue is made from animal parts, so it’s non-toxic and biodegradable. It’s safe to use and doesn’t harm the environment.
Easy to Clean:
It dissolves in water, so cleaning up is simple. It also won’t clog your tools or sandpaper.
Long Shelf Life (When Dry):
In its dry form (like granules or pearls), hide glue lasts for many years if kept dry. You can mix and heat only what you need, when you need it.
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Types of Hide Glue and How to Use Them
Traditional Hot Hide Glue
How to Prepare It:
First, soak the dry glue (granules or flakes) in water. Then, heat it—usually in a glue pot or a double boiler—until it melts. The ideal temperature is about 60°C (140°F).
How to Use It:
Brush the warm glue onto both surfaces you want to join. Quickly put the parts together and clamp them. The glue starts to gel (harden) as it cools, so you need to work fast and be ready.
Rubbed Joints (No Clamps Needed):
For small parts, you don’t need clamps. Just rub the two glued pieces together until the glue sets and holds them in place.
Liquid Hide Glue
Easy to Use:
Liquid hide glue has extra ingredients (like urea) that keep it soft and usable at room temperature. This gives you more time to work, which is helpful for tricky or detailed assemblies.
Still Works Well:
Liquid hide glue isn’t quite as strong as hot hide glue, but it still makes a strong bond. It also keeps the same benefit of being reversible with heat and moisture.
Applications in Woodworking
Fine Furniture:
Hide glue is great for strong wood joints like dovetails and mortise-and-tenon. It’s also perfect for veneering and marquetry (decorative wood inlays) because it makes clean joints and can be undone if needed.
Antique Restoration:
Since hide glue works well with old-style finishes and can be taken apart easily, it’s the best choice for fixing valuable or historic furniture.
Musical Instruments:
People who build or fix stringed instruments (like violins and guitars) use hide glue because it lets them make repairs later without harming the instrument.
Bookbinding and Decoration:
Hide glue is flexible and strong, so it works well for bookbinding. It’s also used for decorative finishes like crackle effects in painted surfaces.
Limitations of Hide Glue
Not Waterproof:
Hide glue can weaken if it gets wet, so it’s not good for outdoor or damp places.
Short Working Time (Hot Hide Glue):
You have to work quickly because it cools and hardens fast. This can be hard for big or complicated projects.
Sensitive to Heat:
High heat can soften the glue and make joints come apart. This can be useful for repairs, but it’s also a downside in hot conditions.
Doesn’t Fill Gaps Well:
Hide glue doesn’t work well if there are big gaps between pieces. Modern glues like epoxy are better for that.
Short Shelf Life (Liquid Hide Glue):
Liquid hide glue doesn’t last very long. Even with preservatives, it can go bad over time.
Making and Storing Hide Glue
Homemade Process: Hide glue can be made from rawhide by soaking, heating, straining, and drying the collagen-rich solution. The dried glue can be stored indefinitely and reconstituted as needed.
Storage: Dry glue keeps for years; mixed glue should be refrigerated and used within weeks, or dried again for long-term storage.
Final Thoughts
Hide glue is still popular in woodworking because it’s strong, can be undone when needed, and works well with traditional materials and finishes.
Even though it takes some extra care to use and isn’t right for every job, its benefits make it very useful for fine joinery, repairs, and making instruments. For woodworkers who want both quality and tradition, hide glue is a trusted and timeless choice.
Hide Glue in Woodworking: Short, Unique FAQs
1. Does hide glue have a smell?
Yes, hot hide glue has a distinctive, slightly animal-like odor when heated, but it dissipates as it dries.
2. Can hide glue be colored or tinted?
Absolutely! You can add water-soluble dyes to hide glue to help it blend with wood tones for invisible joints.
3. Is hide glue safe for food-contact items?
No, hide glue is not recommended for items like cutting boards or utensils that come into contact with food.
4. Can you sand hide glue?
Yes, once dry, hide glue sands easily and won’t clog sandpaper.
5. Does hide glue work on oily woods?
Hide glue can struggle with oily woods like teak; cleaning the surface with solvent first may improve adhesion.
6. Can I use hide glue in a cold workshop?
Cold temperatures can cause hide glue to gel too quickly. Warm your workspace and materials for best results.
7. How do I remove dried hide glue from wood?
Dried hide glue is water-soluble—just use a damp cloth or sponge to soften and wipe it away.
8. Can hide glue be used with modern clamps?
Yes, any woodworking clamp works with hide glue; just be mindful of the glue’s short open time.
9. Will hide glue attract insects or rodents?
Properly cured hide glue is not typically attractive to pests, but storing unused glue in sealed containers is wise.
10. Can I mix hide glue with other adhesives?
Mixing hide glue with synthetic glues is not recommended, as it can compromise the bond and reversibility.