Thread: Show and tell . Copper Glue pots

Strewth, Rob, the big'un has copped more than its fair share of bashings! Why copper? More resistant to corrosion? Better heat transfer? Just because you like the look of copper?

I have a cast iron boiler & pot, about the same size as the middle one, but it sits unloved in a corner now that I have the 'lectrick wax warmer. Note to users of wax warmers: hot hide glue likes the aluminium container, it munches holes in it! Mine gave out after a couple of years of moderate use. I hunted around and eventually found a stainless steel milk jug of a suitable diameter in a kitchen store. After I removed the handle & cut the top off, it fitted the warmer well enough, so I'm hoping that should see me out.......

I just liked the idea of older and rarer at first with the copper ones Ian. The one on the left coming from Sydney and possibly out of an early cabinet shop was the tipping point of reaching into my pocket for the $30 it cost.

The cast iron type do sometimes leave iron oxide stains to the work if the tannic acid content is high in the timber , like Oak or Blackwood . This is probably less of a problem with a quick fresh mix rather than an old mix that has been reheated a few times.

Oxalic acid fixes the stains though or I use Aluminium or Glass to heat the glue in if I need to avoid it at all costs.

The big one is a bit rough isn't it ! it could have been used in a large joinery shop or cabinet shop I guess ? maybe it was the main one and glue could have been transferred from that to smaller pots ?


Rob