Thread: Users Guide to Adhesives

Intro article from Britannia on Adhesives.

Here is a link to a great traditional glue, casein glue, which makes some of the strongest wood-to-wood bonding, stronger than epoxy and does not soften with heating as epoxy does (casein is used in fire resistant doors). It does not do wood-to-metal bonds though.

From the link:

"Casein glue

Casein glue is a type of adhesive made from milk protein. The glue is known to be very strong over a long period of time and is resistant to water. It has a longer drying time (clamp your piece of work for 2 – 4 hours). There have been many uses for casein glue throughout history. There are records that show it was created and used by the ancient Egyptians. It was employed in the Middle Ages to bind together thin panels into thicker plates on which artists could paint. It also is believed to be used by makers of famous musical instruments that have lasted for a century or more. It was used extensively in woodworking, furniture making and even to assemble early wooden aircraft (WW2 fighter aircraft).

The process of creating this glue is nearly identical to that of making cheese and can easily be performed at home. There are various recipes to be found online. The most basic ones only contain: skimmed milk (powder), vinegar, baking soda and water. Replacing baking soda with slaked lime gives a more durable and water resistant glue."

Making Casein Glue / Paint, depending on the dilution and if you add pigments. Makes a fire resistant indoor paint. Casein glue is very resistant to occasional prolonged soaking with water, but if left somewhere where it keeps getting repeatedly wet it will be destroyed by mold / bacteria. In the video below, if you skip the baking soda step, you can use the casein to make casein plastic items, from buttons to knife "bone" handles (yep, those bone handle knives in your mum's kitchen drawer are casein handles).