Hot hide glue is the one which is extracted out of animal hides. These are available in both solid and liquid form. They are an ideal choice for fixing old furniture and to obtain an aesthetic distressed furniture look. The glue has two amazing qualities, which makes it stand out amongst the other product, i.e., reversibility and initial tacking or joining.
This type of glue allows you rejoin old wood pieces without removing the previous glue joints as it efficiently dissolves them (applicable to only white and yellow glue). Similarly, newly formed joints can also be reversed to adjust positions by just dissolving the joints.
The glue sets in 2 steps. First, it cools down and becomes dry as water evaporates and forms a strong bond. Consequently, this allows you to join wood pieces without the use of clamps. However, the glue sets in very rapidly, thus not suitable when numerous joints are involved.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Joints can be easily reversed without the need to scrape off old glue
- Non-toxic
- Strong and reliable
- Cost-effective
Cons:
- Not water-resistant
- Poor adhesion without moisture
- Cannot be preserved by freezing
- Must be handled with care