My uncle made me feel bad about using glue sticks on a broken chair leg last Sunday

I was fixing up an old wooden chair for my niece and my uncle Bob walked in while I was grabbing a hot glue gun. He just shook his head and said 'When I was your age we had to boil animal bones for the real stuff.' It got me thinking about how many modern shortcuts I lean on without even trying the old ways first. He showed me how to make a simple hide glue from gelatin and water mixed with a little vinegar and it held way better than I expected. Anybody else got a relative who makes you question your whole DIY approach?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_davis4d ago

Hold up, you're missing the real issue here. Glue hides immediate damage but weakens the whole cell structure over time. My grandpa was a cabinetmaker and he showed me how wood fibers actually form a mechanical lock when you use hot hide glue. The glue absorbs into the grain and the wood itself bonds better. So your uncle wasn't just being old school he was right about the physics. Modern shortcuts don't always mean better results.

ellis.victor4d ago

My grandpa taught me the same thing, but I was too busy trying to glue my action figure back together to listen. Now my bookshelf leans like it's about to breakdance, and I'm pretty sure it's because I used the cheapest stuff I could find at the hardware store. Guess I should have paid more attention in wood shop instead of just making birdhouses.