GLUE Liquid Glue.—Prepared or liquid glue is a solution of glue with water kept liquid by the addition of 1 fluid ounce of strong nitric acid to 1 pound of dry glue.
Or add 3 ounces of commercial acetic acid to 1 ounce of glue.
Or mix 2 ounces of glue, 2 ounces of vinegar, and 2 ounces of water; dissolve in a double boiler and add 1 ounce of alcohol.
Or dissolve pound of the best pale glue in li pints of water and add pint of vinegar.
Or put any quantity of the best glue broken in small pieces in a glass fruit jar and cover with 1 part of vinegar or dilute acetic acid and 5 parts of water. Set the jar in a ves sel of hot water, and let stand until the glue is melted. In all these cases the glue will dissolve more rapidly if allowed to stand a few days in cold water, which may be poured off when the glue is wanted.
Or dissolve in a double boiler ounces of the best pale glue in pint of water. Add slowly, stirring con stantly, ounce of pure nitric acid.
Bottle and cork for use. This can be used cold for all ordinary pur poses, and does not thicken, decay, or become moldy, but is not water proof. This recipe has often been sold as a trade secret.
Other proportions recommended are equal parts by weight of glue and water and their combined weight of nitric acid; e. g., melt 10 ounces of glue in 10 ounces of water and add 2 ounces of nitric acid.
Or dissolve 10 ounces of glue in 20 ounces of water and add 1 ounce of nitric acid. Any of these is a pow erful adhesive which is always ready for use.
Or dissolve 6 ounces of glue in 16 ounces of water and add 1 ounce of hydrochloric acid and 1 ounces of sulphate of zinc. This is a perma nent liquid glue which will not spoil under ordinary household conditions.
Or mix 1 ounce of clear gelatin, 1 ounce of glue, ounce of alcohol, and 1 tablespoonful of powdered alum. Add 2 ounces of commercial acetic acid. Melt in a double boiler. Bot tle and cork for use.
Flexible Glue.—The addition to any of the above liquid glues of one fourth by weight of glycerin in pro portion to the amount of glue em ployed, imparts a flexible quality which prevents the glue from crack ing and is useful for all flexible sur faces, as leather, paper, bookbinding, and the like.
Photograph Glue.—Mix 3 ounces of chloral hydrate and 4i ounces of gelatin and dissolve in 13 ounces of water. Let stand 2 or 3 days. Use for mounting photographs.
Waterproof Glue.—Dissolve in a double boiler pound of best white glue in 1 quart of skimmed milk. Stir occasionally until the mixture has the consistency of glue. Apply with a brush. This hardens to a durable waterproof cement. The ad dition of a few drops of nitric acid converts this mixture into liquid glue or mucilage.
Portable Glue.—Melt in a double
boiler 5 ounces of glue and 2 ounces of sugar with S ounces of water. Pour into small molds to dry. solve when required in warm water.
Or dissolve i pound of best white glue in hot water, and strain through cheese cloth. Dissolve 2 ounces of best isinglass in water to the consist ency of cream. Mix the two solu tions in a glass vessel. Add 1 pound of pure brown sugar, put the ves sel in boiling water, boil, and stir until it thickens. Pour off into small molds to harden. When cold this cement is solid and portable. When required for use it may be softened by holding it over steam for a moment, or wetting it with the tongue and rubbing it on the surfaces to be cemented. It is used for cementing paper, leather, and many other ma terials, and is doubly valuable on ac count of its convenience, being always ready for use.
Or mix I ounce of isinglass, I ounce of parchment, 2 drams of su gar candy, and 2 drams of gum tragacanth. Add 1 ounce of water and boil until dissolved. Pour into molds for use. This may be wet with the tongue or otherwise and rubbed on the edges of paper, silk, or leath er to cement them. It is recom mended for sealing letters.
Isinglass Adhesives. — Pure isin glass, which may be dissolved read ily in water, is a very strong adhe sive.
Isinglass is an animal tissue ob tained chiefly from the air bladders of certain fish. The substance used in place of glass in stove windows, sometimes improperly called isin glass, is a stone or mineral, the cor rect name of which is mica.
Dissolve isinglass in hot water, using a double boiler, and apply with a brush to glass, china, or marble.
Or dissolve ounce of isinglass in 1 or 2 ounces of alcohol and add a tablespoonful of water. Apply to the edges of broken glass or similar ar ticles with gentle pressure, and the fracture will hardly be noticeable.
Or isinglass may he dissolved in about its own weight of brandy, gin, alcohol, or other spirits. This solu tion makes the best cement for glass and porcelain.
Or mix 2 ounces of isinglass and I ounce of gum arabic, cover with 95 per cent alcohol, cork loosely, and put the bottle In boiling water until dissolved. This is the best and most delicate cement. Used by opticians, jewelers, and others whose trades re quire the finest workmanship.
Spalding's Liquid Glue.—Dissolve in a double boiler I pound of pure isinglass in I pint of soft water. Add slowly, stirring constantly, 2 ounces of nitric acid. This is a per manent liquid glue, which is always ready for use and will not mold or putrefy. Bottle and cork to prevent evaporation. Used for wood, leath er, paper, and, in the absence of special adhesives, for many other purposes.