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Pitch for hafting question

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willie:
I have been collecting spruce pitch to use for hafting. actually what I have collected is more like hardened lumps of dried sap from where branches have been broken off. I read somewhere (probably here at PA) that it dissolves well in denatured alcohol, and Indeed it does.

Now I have a jar of dissolved pitch that I need to reduce to a more workable state. Taking the cover off and keeping it in a warm place has allowed it to loose quite a bit of volume, and I suppose that at some point it will become some sort of sticky mess.

Does anyone have some tried and true techniques for reducing my "syrup" to an easily workable state?  or suggest how I might be able to create something like the block of rosin that one sees sold for violin bows?

other suggestions are welcome also.

thanks

willie

BowEd:
Have you seen Iowabow and Isaacs' pitch glue tutoral in the primitive skills section?On a U tube I believe.

Pat B:
I dissolve hard pitch in alcohol and use it as a varnish for sealing sinew wraps and some arrow shafts. For pitch glue for hafting, melt(be careful, highly volatile) the pitch and remove bark pieces, etc if any add bees wax and finely ground charcoal. I use enough beeswax so I can barely push a finger nail in it when cooled. Add the charcoal dust to give it more body. I don't use measurements. Sorry.

Hawkdancer:
Listen to PatB!  That is how I am going to do it,  got lots of sawdust, maybe some charcoal dust, and beeswax!  Patience is the challenge!  Double boiler, and outdoors!  Camp stove works.
Hawkdancer

jeffp51:
You can also use a heat gun to melt the sap-it prevents you from stetting fire to it.  I put a layer of foil over a tin can. Then create a dish in the foil to hold the pitch. Poke little holes in the foil with a toothpick. As you melt the pitch it drops through the foil to the can below. Then add beeswax and charcoal as mentioned by others. Soft, Non hardened pitch seems to work better than the dry stuff.

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