Rabbit Skin Glue- What is it made out of? what is it used for?

Question

Rabbit Skin Glue- What is it made out of? what is it used for?

Answer 1

True Rabbit Skin Glue is made from 100% rabbit collagen (hide & connective tissue).  It is used to "size" or tighten canvas for oil painting; it is also used as a glue like Elmer's, often for fine woodworking such as musical instruments.

In traditional oil painting as practiced by the Renaissance painter, skin glue was used to coat the canvas. This is necessary because the linseed oil that forms the base of most oil paint contains an acid, linolenic acid, that will over time destroy the canvas fibers.

Rabbit skin glue can be bought in powder form or in larger chunks. Preparation involves using the correct proportion of water to glue to achieve the correct consistency and strength. It should be heated to just short of the boiling point. Too much heat results in a product with reduced adhesive qualities