Pine Pitch 🌲: The Most Convenient Prehistoric Adhesive?
PINE PITCH
In the past and now, people have used two sticky substances: hide glue and pine pitch. Hide glue is a bit more complicated and often traded or used by skilled individuals. It involves a process called hide tanning, which can be difficult. On the other hand, pine pitch is easier to make, and anyone can do it with a bit of heat and a tool for collecting sap. Keep reading to learn more!
PINE PITCH
Where to Find Pine Pitch
One great thing about pine pitch is that it comes from evergreen trees in all states. You can even find these trees in neighborhoods. You don’t need to be an expert hunter-gatherer to get pine pitch – it’s right outside the tree’s bark. All you need are two things: pine sap and charcoal.
PINE PITCH
Melting Pine Pitch
PINE PITCH
Tips & Tricks
Remember, pine pitch is not super glue, so don’t treat it like one. Tools, like projectile points, can be attached to handles, but they may come off if hit at the wrong angle. Don’t use too much force when attaching flakes or knives, or they might fall out.
If you don’t have a fire pit, you can use a stove, which is safer without an open flame. Keep the pot or pan separate from the cooking ones. If the sap gets on your hands, use goo gone to remove it quickly. A simple project for skilled and novice readers is attaching a flake to a wooden handle. It can be handy in various crafts and situations.
PINE PITCH
Hands on Learning:
Join us for our new 16-week semester ReWilding courses and receive hands-on, in-person lessons. Learn how to make pine pitch, create fire-pits, and much, much more. Join us today!
