made some pine pitch today

[timmyd]

first try doing this. I guess we shall see how it does.

[Pat B]

What are your ingredients?

[bjrogg]

I'm also curious what your ingredients are Timmyd. I really like pine pitch glue when you get the mix right. I hope it works good for you. If you have any problems with it let us know, maybe we can help you tweek your recipe if it needs it.
Bjrogg

[timmyd]

well I'm not really sure what I'm to be looking for to be honest. it dried hard not spongy at all. I melted some to fill in some gaps of my hafting job and it seemed to do that fine. I used charcoal ash from my grill and dried rabbit droppings

[bjrogg]

         Sounds good, I usually use some charcoal from campfire ground up real fine, but that might actually be better. I usually add some wax so it isn't quite as sticky.
       If I have it figured out right, if it's to brittle add some charcoal or fiber. If it's to sticky add a little wax.
       Sometimes it helps to let's it simmer for awhile to.

[Aaron H]

I think you meant the other way around BJ.  Too brittle-add some wax, too sticky-add some charcoal.

[bjrogg]

     Guess maybe I got it wrong then Aaron. I usually just make a pretty good sized batch and play around with it till I like it.
     Timmyd the hard dry stuff is what you want. I believe you can use the softer stuff but need to cook it longer.
     I'm definitely not a expert at it but if you play around with it you'll come up with the right combination.
Bjrogg

[BowEd]

Iowabo did a real in depth study on this even to what kind of charcoal to use.I think it was willow charcoal used.I keep a ball of it on a stick made quite some time ago to my liking.I'm no expert though either.There's a consistency sought after that is'nt too brittle or sticky but doing the job mounting flint arrow heads like previous texters have said here.

[bjrogg]

I wonder if anyone has a favorite tree type for sap? I have a few Jack Pine trees behide my house. I like the pitch from them better than the white pines I planted by my dad's pond.
Bjrogg

[Pat B]

I've found that if you start with hard brittle pitch your pitch glue isn't sticky when cool. If you start with sticky pitch it is sticky when cool.
 I start with hard, brittle pitch, add bees wax to make it less brittle and add charcoal to add body. You can substitute animal fat to reduce brittleness and also other materials like dried rabbit or deer dung, saw dust, finely chopped straw and other materials to add body.
I never had a specific recipe but just put in the additives as I see fit for the consistency I need.