Hide glue has been around since, well, since glues were invented. And while there is no argument that the new advancements in adhesives are great (Titebond® in all of its variations, for example), hide glue (and primarily Franklin’s liquid hide glue) remains a significant part of my woodworking for a few important reasons.
First and foremost, because it works so well. It holds wood together with a tenacious grip. And, unlike some other white and yellow glue product, it has virtually no glue-creep.
The second cool thing about it is that it is reversible. If you soak a hide glue joint, you can pull that joint apart in short order. While this means that hide glue would be a poor choice for, say, boat building, it makes it the ideal choice for everything from violins to chairs.
The liquid version of hide glue has yet another lovely feature – a relatively long open time. This cuts down on that sense of panic that can otherwise affect complicated glue-up. (And I’ve already mentioned that you can “undo” a hide glue joint with relative ease in case the glue-up goes south.)
Franklin’s Titebond® Liquid Hide Glue is a product I heartily recommend. It is available in a variety of sizes and from many convenient sources. If you have not used it yet, why not give it a try in your next project? I am guessing you will be happy that you did.
