Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills
Making pitch glue
Ryan Jacob:
I just made some out of mango sap, it wotks but needs more temper (note: if you have poison oak problems I do not suggest, I for one, don’t)
Pat B:
I'd keep the hard and sticky stuff separate. You will have to cook the sticky stuff so the turps evaporate off. Be very careful because it is highly volatile. And, I'm not sure if the pitch will seep through a coffee filter or not.
Hawkdancer:
I plan to do the "cooking" outside when it it somewhat cooler. I sort of forgot about the rendering of turpentine! Duh! Is skimming enough to clean up the crud, or is a metal mesh strainer better? Thanks for the info.
Hawkdancer
Pat B:
I think a medal strainer would be best but you can skim the crud off the top and gentle pour off the melted pitch to keep the heavier stuff on the bottom. The crud from the top and bottom can be saved for fire starters.
I cook pitch on my wood stove(I don't recommend it for others) but I don't let it come to a boil. I'll cook it for a short while, let it cool and check for hardness and repeat...sometimes 5 or 6 times over a few weeks. You'll have to let it cool to be able to tell if it is hard or still sticky when cooled.
Pappy:
I do about like Pat, Just add more fine hard wood ash if it is it still sticky when it dries and more bees wax if it is to brittle. Once I think it is close I drip a little on a sheet of paper, let it cool and see if it is sticky, you can bend the paper and see if it is to brittle, then just add more ash or wax until you get it right. Takes a little while because I usually do a big pan at a time. :)
Pappy
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