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Rabbit Skin Glue Granules
Animal glue is made by boiling skins until their collagen dissolves. Rabbit-skin glue dries more flexible than most hide glues, so painters size and prime canvas with it, and bookbinders and gesso makers use it. Soak the skins, warm them in water to about 70 °C, draw off the glue liquor, let it set, then dry it and break it into granules that keep for years if kept dry.
The picture: rabbit-skin glue granules (left) and granules swelling in water (right).
Beginner
A week, mostly drying
Instructions
1
1
Soak the skins
Soak the skins
Cut the skins into small pieces and soak them in cold water until soft. Glue works treat hides with lime at this stage and then rinse and neutralise it; we leave the lime out, as in our hide-glue blueprint.
Materials for this step:
Rabbit Skins500 g
Water5 litersTools needed:
Bucket
Utility Knife2
2
Rinse
Rinse
Pour off the soaking water and rinse the pieces in fresh water until it runs clear.
Materials for this step:
Water5 litersTools needed:
Bucket3
3
Draw the glue
Draw the glue
Cover the pieces with water and hold it at about 70 °C for some hours. Pour the glue liquor off through a cloth. Add fresh water and repeat a little hotter each time.
Materials for this step:
Water4 litersTools needed:
Cauldron
Thermometer
CheeseclothBucket4
4
Let it set
Let it set
Pour the liquor in a thin layer on a cool, wet stone. As it cools it sets to a firm jelly.
Tools needed:
Flat Stone Slab5
5
Dry and break up
Dry and break up
Cut the jelly into small cubes and dry them on a rack in moving air until hard and glassy. Break them into granules and store them dry.
Tools needed:
Utility Knife
Drying Rack6
6
Melt for use
Melt for use
Soak granules in cold water until swollen, then warm in a double boiler and use warm, around 60 °C.
Materials for this step:
Water0.5 literTools needed:
Double BoilerThermometer7
7
Yield and strength
Yield and strength
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