Pine pitch
glue is an extremely versatile natural pine sap based adhesive
that has been used from pre-history to modern times by various
cultures across the world. Mainly composed of rendered pine sap,
ground plant fibers, and powdered charcoal in specific
proportions, this glue is easy to apply and has numerous
uses. Just to name a few, its applications can include
attaching and hafting stone projectiles and blades to
shafts/handles, illumination and fire starting, waterproofing
basketry, holding together woodcrafts, and even
sealing seams on birch bark canoes.
Our pine
pitch glue sticks have just the right amount of everything;
this creates a 'not to brittle but not too soft' glob of glue on a
stick that is easy to store and use whenever desired. For
instance, if used properly with sinew reinforcement for arrow
point attachment, chances are that the shaft or point will break
before the glue fails. You can find this natural adhesive and
others in our Glues,
Hafting, and Pigments product category.
Disclaimer: The
author of this article and GoKnapping shall not be liable for
any injury, loss or damage, direct or consequential, arising out
of the use or inability to use the information on this
page.
To use for your project:
Simply apply a task specific amount of heat to the end of the ball
of glue to manipulate as needed. If you hold over a flame for very
long at all, the glue can be dripped onto your project and quickly
molded to form, or you can simply apply a small amount of heat and
form a pliable ball to use for hafting/attaching points and blades
with or without the added strength of sinew. Experiment with it
yourself and see what works best for your project. Over
heated pitch can burn your skin so be very cautious when touching
directly.
Storage and display:
First and foremost, any storage of raw glue or projects
incorporating this glue should not be stored in direct sunlight,
or any environment that gets hot or even warm for extended amounts
of time. For example, leaving your pitch glue in an un-air
conditioned car is asking for an unpleasant situation. It is best
to keep sealed in a dark cool environment.
Here are
some tips that can help you get the most out of your pine pitch
glue:
It is best to do any pine pitch glue project
in a well ventilated area and over a table top covered in
newspaper or wax paper for easy clean up.
A small
hobby/craft propane or butane torch that can sit flat on a table
is a great source for hands free heat. Have it on a low
setting to avoid scorching the glue. If the glue ever ignites at
all, extinguish immediately by removing it from the heat
source. Having a cup of water nearby is a good
precaution.
Heating gradually, then removing a wad of glue
and forming it into a thin bead may work better for your task than
using the ball on a stick directly.
If you make a
mistake, simply apply heat to the piece and in most situations you
can start over. Like any glue, it can get messy. Having some
turpentine handy when doing your project will insure that clean up
is relatively easy.
It helps if not only the glue is warm,
but the pieces being glued are warm as well. Gluing an arrow
point onto a shaft should involve heating the shaft slightly, and
glue, then the glued point on the shaft. You can then quickly wrap
sinew into the soft glue to add strength. This also applies to
knives and other blade/shaft/handle combinations.
Try
masking areas that should not be glued with masking
tape.
To give your project an ancient look, try dusting the
glue while still tacky in dried dirt or small bits of gravel.
Experiment as you would like to get the best results for your
project.
Copyright 2015 Elliot Collins
