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Hi folks, I have looked through some older posts trying to find current sources and info on Hot Hide glue. I am new to the HHG world, having used fish glue and basic Titebond in the past. I would like to look into HHG (I also do antique restoration and could use it there as well). I am not trying to downplay SM here but the price seems a bit excessive as there are other sources that seem to be much cheaper. I just want a reputable source for a good product. The info that keeps showing up is 192 strength. One of the questions I have is regarding "clarity". How does that factor in?
Thanks for reading. I know this has been covered before but I haven't seen much since LMI went out of business.

Gosh, where can't you buy granulated hide glue? You can get it from lots of places, and from what I understand, if it is made in the USA, it is made by Milligan and Higgins. Everyone just buys in bulk and repackages it.

Here is a great place to buy granulated hide glue:

https://bjornhideglue.com/

But other repackagers are fine, too, like Highland Woodworking, Tools for Working Wood, etc. Just make sure you are buying the specific type you want.

I never use anything other than 192 gram strength. It does everything I want it to do.

What Don said. It's all over the place.

Here are my sources:

https://www.internationalviolin.com/luthier-supplies/glues/x1220-hide-glue-grade-315

https://www.shellac.net/adhesives-glue-epoxy.html

edit: You can only buy hide glue. You have to provide the "hot" part yourself.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Oh, and regarding clarity? My understanding is that high clarity has less color and less smell. I don't have a problem with either a browner glue or a smellier glue, but some folks might, so avoiding the issue by buying high clarity seems like a fine idea.

Somewhere I saw something; on a classical guitar build of some kind; where the guy says that he mixes hide and bone glue. Something like 50/50 for some things, and mostly bone for others. It made me wonder if that's how they get the higher grades; add more bone?

I've never seen a listing for bone glue. Rabbit glue, fish glue, hide glue; but not bone.

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Why be normal?

As far as heating it I splurged for the Hold-Heet almost 20 years ago and it has performed flawlessly.

I was shocked looking for a link only to find it’s out of production. I’ll be super careful with mine.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

http://www.northern-nikawa.com
The stuff by Amanosan that is listed as "luthiers choice" is what many noted violin luthiers use. There are a number of forum topics in regard to its superiority on maestronet. It's not cheap. The stuff under "modern" is well priced and I find to be better than anything I've used in the past for day-to-day work. There are also other interesting things for sale but the glues seem to be the focus and really are the best I've used.

* I should note that the majority of the products from Northern Nikawa are Japanese made hide glues, so it's not just the repackaged Milligan & Higgins (which I used for years) mentioned above. I find this stuff much more consistent. The site also offers fish-flake (make your own fish glue in a manner like making HHG) and it appears that they make isinglass as well although it's out of stock.

I like the SM high clarity FWIW. It seems to clean up easier than the others I’ve used in the past. Could be I’m getting better at putting down the right amount at the start though, so YMMV.

Brad


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As always, you all come through with great ideas and sources. I appreciate it. Looking forward to working with HHG. I have an 1880's Martin with a "snow cone heel" that is in desperate need of a neck reset and I wouldn't touch it with any other glue. This info will help. I've been sitting on this repair for awhile (it's my personal guitar) and now feel a little better about moving forward.

I like shellac.net , it's an especially nice place as they happen to be 5 min from my house.

Ron the owner is a wealth of information.

https://www.shellac.net.

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UK source
https://workshopheaven.com/old-brown-granulated-hide-glue-192gm-strength-1lb/

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I got mine from Lee Valley.