Official Luthiers Forum!

Subject says it all - I've tried the usual, googling and ebay, but no luck.
Anyone know of a UK source that will mail order??

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Colin

I use Kremer, not exactly cheap or UK tho. Not sure about gram strength but there is a distinct absence of wet dog smell. I usually get some Shellac and bits and bobs when I order to make it worthwhile. You get the ( perhaps deluded ) feeling that your getting good quality products.

http://www.kremer-pigmente.com/en/mediu ... 63020.html

Peter

230 - 270 Bloomgram quoted on specifications, but thanks. At least if it's in EU would be good.
Seems to be difficult to get specs on any of the sites for glues, be it for violins, pianos, scotch glue, pearl glue, etc.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

eBay is where I get my hide glue for uke-making. Somewhere like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hide-Glue-Pearl-Glue-traditional-Luthier-glue-250g-/130803273525?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item1e747b8f35

(though I might not have bought from this particular seller, as ukes don't use a lot of glue!)

No-one ever tells you the strength, but I've assumed it's "standard" glue (somewhere around 192) and it seems to work as you would expect. Short but not silly-short working time, stuff stays glued together.

It's cheap enough to buy a small batch to try out, even if you decide in the end that it's not the right strength for your application.

The Ebay stuff looks like bone glue. Perfectly good but it doesn't have the clarity of the Hide. I buy from Kremer and mix Hide and Bone roughly 50/50. Previous to that I bought the cologne glue from Touchstone tonewoods and some Hide from Dyke before that. One thing I did notice: they all stick wood together pretty good.
I don't think I've ever come across a UK supplier who states bloom strength. I suspect it's all in the 170 to 270 gram bracket. Unless it's past 270 I doubt that it matters much, there are ways or techniques to extend gel time should you need it.

you'll need to check with these as to the strength

http://www.beareandson.co.uk/hide-glue-159-p.asp

http://www.liberon.co.uk/raw-materials/ ... QmfA%3D%3D

http://www.axminster.co.uk/liberon-libe ... prod22992/

not in the UK, but Tanex have 200 grams. shipping was a bit high last time i checked.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

I would definitely be interested in the Tanex glue, but when I last checked, they seem to be minimum quantity of 30 kg bags. Have you ordered from them yourself?

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I've bought the 192g hide glue from these folks, and it is the high clarity stuff. They ship to the UK, but maybe the shipping cost is what's stopping you?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIDE-GLUE-Bulk- ... d=ViewItem

I just checked the UK eBay, and they do sell there:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIDE-GLUE-Bul ... 20d0c452b9

It's not a UK source, but it is available....cheers

Hi.
I can import from LMI for example, it's just a case of economics (and getting what I want!)
That 3 lbs would work out to about $86 bucks in my workshop, with customs duty and fees.
We have a quality major manufacturer in EU (Tanex), just trying to find a retailer.
Thanks anyway Steve, appreciated - I had only thrown up the 4 oz bags from that seller when searching ebay.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

hi Colin, i did not buy from them because shipping costs were pretty steep, but they didn´t demand a 30 Kg order. Their reply was "For Topaz I and Topaz II there is no minimum order ammount". I checked my correspondence and it was 75 euros shipping for 6 Kg (three 2 Kg bags). each bag cost 3.1 euros (+ VAT) - which makes the glue dirt cheap. maybe we should consider a Tanex european group buy?

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

just to add: if i doubled the ammount (12 Kg) the shipping costs (to portugal) would "only" be 82 euros. This was in December 2011.

all the best,
miguel.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes