Cherry tree resin

[John S]

Hi folks the other day I noticed that some Cherry trees that had been damaged exuded a clear resin, which I collected.
It is water-soluble and has no significant odour or taste. As water evaporates from a dilute solution it thickens, becomes jelly-like and finally sets as a clear brittle solid
I thing it might make a good glue.

Any ideas?

John S

 

[storm]

i once collected some hard nodules of Bitter Cherry pitch (Prunus emarginata). they wouldn't melt over a flame and boiling had no effect on them. i was able to grind a couple beads out of them, but they eventually broke due to fragility...

 

[Jeff Wagner]

I tried some boiled and reduced cherry sap once as an arrowhead hafting cement. It took forever to dry and I felt it was too brittle. Hide glue or pine pitch works better.

 

[JohnC]

Is it worth mixing the resin with some charcoal powder? I believe this takes some of the brittleness out of the dried resin.

 

[Jeff Wagner]

While it is gellatinous I was not overly impressed with its adhesive quality of cherry sap. Charcoal can be used to temper pine pitch but I dont think it would improve cherry sap. I am having trouble coming up with a good use for it. A low calorie, tastless gum perhaps that wont stick to your dentures...

 

[den]

I collected a huge lump from a wild cherry (Prunus avium) about five years ago. I found it to be far from brittle. Still using the same lump. I use it for glueing whippings together. have fletched with it and alot more. Mixed with boiling water takes a while to Dissolve keep the soultion quite runny. Dries like varnish.
Give it a go John you'll never know until you try.

 

[isotonicpies]

I heard about the following glue somewhere along the line.

Holly leaves & any starchy cereal crop.

Add the both ingredients to water boil, pulp, & simmer down to a glue. Apparently for survial situations, you can paste it onto normal bird roosts and wait for them to get stuck. When one gets stuck leave it and it's flapping will attract other birds.

Never tried it though, it's just another one from the 'in theory' part of my brain.

 

[John S]

Thanks for the feedback folks.

John S

 

[Toddy]

I heard about the following glue somewhere along the line.

Holly leaves & any starchy cereal crop.

Add the both ingredients to water boil, pulp, & simmer down to a glue. Apparently for survial situations, you can paste it onto normal bird roosts and wait for them to get stuck. When one gets stuck leave it and it's flapping will attract other birds.

Never tried it though, it's just another one from the 'in theory' part of my brain.

I tried the holly bark boiled up for glue...supposed to cover it and leave it to sit to turn into a sticky mush.....ended up with a pot of what smelled like stale vomit No way am I trying that again. My neighbour has just pruned her holly tree though, might try the leaves and cereal mix though, I have barley and oats growing in the garden.
Cheers,
Toddy

 

[troyka]

i saw Ray M use bluebell bulbs as glue, but he did say they are POISON so maybe not a safe idea.. he used them on flechings for an arrow.

does cherry tree sap burn like pine sap?

Ian

 

[den]

does cherry tree sap burn like pine sap?

Ian

Nothing like it. It just blistered up and went black with no flame when i held a match up to it.