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Pine Pitch

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neuse:
I can not figure out why I am so much trouble with pine pitch.
When I try to mount an arrow head or blade the pitch will harden and create a bond, but it is very brittle and takes very little effort to dislodge the brittle bond.

What am I doing wrong?

Byron

bowtarist:
Did you make your own pitch or is it traded/store bought?  Is it breaking into crumbles?  Are you wrapping them with sinew or something or just gluing them then trying to break them off?  Pat B will see this, he's the MAN on the subject as far as I'm concerned.  Good luck, dpg

IsaacW:
Pitch is in nature fairly brittle when dried (especially as it gets REALLY DRY).  That is why when using it for canoes, we add grease (rendered bear, deer, raccoon).  Try adding a little of this too it.  When we make a new batch, we generally test it by dipping a strip of birch bark into the pitch pot and then dunking the bark into a kettle of cold water.  Then, bend the bark and see if it cracks, or if it is TOO pliable.

Pappy:
I do like Isaac,but use bee's wax,test till it is like I want it. I also add curshed up hard wood coals for body and color,I like black. :)
   Pappy

Pat B:
The hard brittle pitch is what you want for pitch glue(and varnish). You do need to add bees wax(or grease like Isaac said). This will make it less brittle so it doesn't crumble. Also add finely ground charcoal(or dried deer or rabbit poop) to add body to the pitch glue.
  Start out with 2 parts of pitch and one part each bees wax and charcoal(or whatever you use for substitutes). You will have to heat these up to mix them together. Be very careful heating pitch as it is very volatile and will combust if it gets too hot. For safety sake you would be better heating and mixing it out side away from anything flamable.

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