Survivalists desire the skill of doing things for themselves. While they may know how to provide food for their families, could they make their own glue if the need arose for it? Would you like to know how you can make your own glue—from milk? That’s right—from milk. It’s called casein glue.
Elementary Adhesives
There are a number of simple ways to make glues using various starches, flour, or gelatin. An improvement to these formulations is casein glue. While it requires a little effort to make, it is still not difficult and it is a superior product. In fact, it is related to some of the famous brands available at your store, including construction glue.
Milk is a Natural
Casein is an important phosphoprotein found in cow’s milk. It has been used for hundreds of years on porous materials such as paper and wood. To make this historic glue, you will need a quart of skim milk, two cups distilled (white) vinegar, a steel saucepan, a medium glass bowl, a coffee filter, a mixing spoon, an 8-ounce glass, and four teaspoons of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
The French Chef
First, in a saucepan, combine the milk with the vinegar. Place the saucepan on the stove and heat it at a moderate temperature. After the milk is thoroughly curdled, take it off the heat; allow the solids to settle. After cooling, use the coffee filter to separate the solids from the liquid. Discard the liquid.
Squeeze the excess moisture from the curds and press them with a paper towel. Now transfer the curds to the glass bowl.
Fill the glass about three-fourths full with hot (not boiling) water; dissolve the baking soda in the water. Now pour half that solution into the bowl containing the curds. Stir and let the mixture set with occasional additional stirring until the mixture completely dissolves and is uniform. Add additional baking soda solution, as needed. Do not add too much, as you do not want the glue to be too thin and runny.
The Result? High Quality Casein Glue
Your yield should be approximately one cup of glue, plus a good deal of pride. It should be comparable to any quality commercial product.
Note: You might also enjoy Make Homemade Iron Gall Ink from Oak Tree Galls
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That’s interesting. I had never heard of that previously. That would be a good science experiment for slightly older children.
This was a fantastic experience! The glue is very strong and simple to adjust if necessary.
Thank you for your input! Believe me, it is appreciated…
Thanks for the very informative article, I’ll have to get some skimmed milk powder (I only have full cream at present).
I believe casein glue was the preferred choice for wooden aircraft until the end of WWII when many wooden aircraft were scrapped in Britain as it was feared that long term exposure to damp conditions would degrade the strength so generally it was considered too expensive to renew the airworthiness certificates.
…And does anyone realize, that we eat that stuff, Casein Glue, every day? And do we see the connection of different diseases in our bodies, when first we eat the glue, then we get environmental pollution, which is then glued to our organs, brain, etc? I have been without any dairy for 35 years, and I have good bones, because of not eating dairy, but eating green veggies instead.
Raya! Green Vegetables? They are all FULL of dihydrogen-oxide. Be careful over consuming them!