Fish Glue.

[whiskywill]

Does anybody use fish glue?
I have bought some dried fish glue for sticking bits of wood together to make stringed instruments but have no idea how much water to add to how much glue or even if its just a case of adding water. Does it need to be heated like hide glue?
I e-mailed the supplier a long time ago but got no response.

 

[AJB Temple]

Add water to the consistency you require to get a rapid tack. It is normally used at room temperature - i.e. not heated. Sometimes the glue can be a bit offensive smelling.

 

[whiskywill]

Sometimes the glue can be a bit offensive smelling.

So can I, so that's not a problem. Thanks for your advice.

 

[profchris]

Fish glue is the Marmite of instrument making. A few use it in preference to anything else, but many have had bad experiences with it. (this is all from lots of reading of luthier forums, I've never used fish glue myself).

The bad reports are mainly about the glue softening on humid days and releasing the joint. Even in the sunniest part of Wales, that might be a concern. OTOH, others report this never happened to them.

Everyone agrees the smell isn't great.

Good points: long open time (and bad corollary, long clamp time), reversibility with heat and moisture like hide glue and easy cleanup with a damp cloth.

There are some who only use it for bindings and find it very useful there.

Let us know how you get on - I'm an 80/20 hot hide/Titebond Original user, with CA for plastic bindings, but maybe I have an unrecognised need to get some fish glue too!

 

[AJB Temple]

Chris

If you are used to using hide glue for luthiery, I would not bother with fish glue. I've tried it purely out of interest, having come across it in a violin workshop in Cremona. if you already have the hot glue set up, as I do, then fish glue confers no advantage that I can discern.

AJ

 

[whiskywill]

Let us know how you get on - I'm an 80/20 hot hide/Titebond Original user, with CA for plastic bindings, but maybe I have an unrecognised need to get some fish glue too!

I have used Titebond Original or Elmer's for almost everything up to now, but, from reading the forums, Colin Symonds, who builds some superb guitars, seems to use fish glue almost exclusively, I believe because of its zero creep. The current Photobucket ransom scheme prevents you viewing his work.

p.s. I rather like the smell. It reminds me of old books.