Why Conservators Still Use Animal Glue

Traditional animal glues were standard cabinetmaking adhesives for centuries. They set hard, can be reactivated by controlled moisture and heat, and are often compatible with original joints.

What to look for

Old glue may appear amber and brittle at exposed edges. Its presence can support an interpretation of construction, but modern restorers also use traditional glue.

Common mistakes

Adding screws, nails or incompatible synthetic adhesive can obstruct proper repair. Simply squeezing new glue into a dirty joint rarely restores close wood-to-wood contact.

Care and repair

A sound repair usually involves careful disassembly, removal of failed loose residue where appropriate, accurate alignment and clamping without bruising surfaces.

References and further reading

• [V&A furniture collection](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/furniture)
• [Canadian Conservation Institute: agents of deterioration](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/agents-deterioration.html)

This article is educational. Test treatments cautiously and consult a conservator before altering a valuable or historically important object.

Watch the workshop approach

See conservation-minded repairs, examinations and techniques on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).