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Repairing an Old Drawer with Animal Hide Glue
Last night I was startled awake from a woodworking daydream by a loud crashing sound from our home office. The side and bottom fell out of drawer of our antique oak desk when Beth was trying to get a box of staples from the rear of the long drawer. Sounds like a repair brewing! Well this desk is an older “antique” oak English library desk. Beth and I bought it 25 years ago from Square Nail Antiques in Santa Cruz, California. It is a great desk, but honestly it is nothing super special . . . just a good sturdy desk that has served us well.
Now there are many ways to approach this repair. Given my interest in “blended methods”, I chose a traditional method using animal hide glue. It was very interesting to examine the (machine cut) dovetails, drawer bottom groove and the 3-ply drawer bottom. To get things going, I gently scraped away the old glue and brittle shellac from the dovetails and drawer side.
I was met by a surprise when I retrieved my hide glue jar from the refrigerator. A small patch of mold had begun to grow along one edge of the glue. Serves me right! It had been awhile since I had fired up the glue pot.
I quickly mixed up a fresh batch and got to work repairing the drawer.
In no time at all the drawer was in the clamps and I had a fresh batch of hide glue for up coming projects.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
11 comments so far
Todd A. Clippinger
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5588 posts in 977 days
posted 200 days ago
Oh, there you are! Wondered where you been.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Todd A. Clippinger
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5588 posts in 977 days
posted 200 days ago
I love the font!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
David
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1982 posts in 1017 days
posted 200 days ago
Hey Todd -
Thanks for the comments! I have been busy in the shop but can’t share what I’m up to quite yet . . .
How are things in Montana?
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Karson
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25271 posts in 1278 days
posted 200 days ago
Great blog David. But I would have expected a few more steps. Using the brush to put the glue in the joints etc.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
David
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1982 posts in 1017 days
posted 200 days ago
Karson -
That made me smile a bit as that was my intention. Things got going a bit more quickly than anticipated and moving a camera around suddenly went to the bottom of the list!
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 857 days
posted 199 days ago
Hi David;
Funny how that happens with hot hide glue, huh?
It kind of dictates the pace.
Good to see you posting.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Todd A. Clippinger
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5588 posts in 977 days
posted 198 days ago
I watched your slideshow a couple more times today. Did you just use the iMovie program for that?
I am interested because you know that I have a lot of photos of past projects but no movie footage. I think that a live narration mixed with still shots would be a way to keep it interesting.
I think that I have a lot of good information to get out concerning the challenges of these projects.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
WayneC
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5854 posts in 975 days
posted 198 days ago
Hey you going to Hop on Southwest tomorrow and Join us at the Sacramento Woodworking show on Saturday? : ^)
Thanks for the nice blog post. Looking forward to seeing what you have under wraps.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Todd A. Clippinger
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5588 posts in 977 days
posted 198 days ago
Sorry to say it – No.
I would LOVE to hook up with you guys, but I don’t see that happening this time around.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
David
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1982 posts in 1017 days
posted 198 days ago
Lee -
Hide glue does have its own pace! I am finding it to be a very useful addition to the shop.
Todd -
I used iPhoto and iMovie. We could touch base on Skype next week if you have some spare time and I can walk you thru the process.
Wayne -
Always good to hear from you. I wish I could hop a jet and attend the Sacramento Woodworking Show! It would be fun to finally meet and collectively drool over some cool tools.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
5588 posts in 977 days
posted 198 days ago
I would love to talk to you. I am close to finishing a project and I might do something with video again.
I wasn’t sure if the question was directed toward you or me since I had an invite from one of the LJ members earlier.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com