Activity: Pitch Glue

[C_Kyle]

Hello Wulfshrunting,

The dry herbivore scat is nothing to really worry about when touched. It is essentially ground up grass. Ungulates (deer, sheep, etc.) leave scat in the path of travel in little pebbles that dry fast in the summer, so it is easy to find as I travel via deer trails and such. I don't ever use scat that is so old that it is a moldy powder that disintegrates to the touch.

It serves to add flex to the pitch, and helps with bind, like straw to adobe clay bricks. It also gives more body to the mix.

You only have to beware of respirating the scat powder when grinding, just as you have to beware of respirating the pitch as you make it. Best to do outside.

You can grind up dry grass to serve the same purpose, but it has to be finely ground. Hence the herbivore scat, as the animal does all the work for you.

As I mentioned in the original post, there are other substitutes that could serve the same purpose! :thumbup:

OK, I see.

 

[Joezilla]

fantastic stuff paleo!

I just used charcoal for mine and it seems to do well. I'll have to dry the scat.

 

[Mistwalker]

Cool post thank you, I had seen the process done with Birch bark but not with something I have on hand.

 

[BenchmadeBoy]

This is great! I have used hide glue to haft stone points and knives myself. I have never used pitch glue though. Will have to try it when it warms up a bit here.

 

[Calebklyne]

awesome thread i always wondered how you would make this

 

[Joezilla]

Hello Wulfshrunting,

The dry herbivore scat is nothing to really worry about when touched. It is essentially ground up grass. Ungulates (deer, sheep, etc.) leave scat in the path of travel in little pebbles that dry fast in the summer, so it is easy to find as I travel via deer trails and such. I don't ever use scat that is so old that it is a moldy powder that disintegrates to the touch.

It serves to add flex to the pitch, and helps with bind, like straw to adobe clay bricks. It also gives more body to the mix.

You only have to beware of respirating the scat powder when grinding, just as you have to beware of respirating the pitch as you make it. Best to do outside.

You can grind up dry grass to serve the same purpose, but it has to be finely ground. Hence the herbivore scat, as the animal does all the work for you.

As I mentioned in the original post, there are other substitutes that could serve the same purpose! :thumbup:

Oh, I forgot to add: We used dog hair from a near by golden retriever and another mutt to add in one of the batches. They didn't seem to mind the brushing to get the hair out. You have to love volunteers!