DIY Monday--Glue and Paste

For the last two years, Monday posts have focused on medicinal herbs (except for a little slip-up last month--I blame it on the move).  I think I've exhausted the medicinal herbs that grow in my area, well, my former area.  I suspect there may be a few new ones here, but it will take some time to research and locate them, and locating any herbs in fall is difficult, and next to impossible in winter.  So after thinking about it for a while, I decided to do some DIY posts on things that aren't quite food or medicine, but generally somewhat related.

As I look at how crazy our society is becoming and store shelves that are increasingly bare--and seemingly without rhyme or reason, my mind wanders to the experiences of the people of Soviet Russia.  They had to go to so many stores and stand in so many lines to provide their families with the bare basics.  All too often I am reading about Americans today going to several stores just to get the food on their grocery lists. 

The reasons for our bare shelves vary, whether it's the virus, transportation, the supply chain, the product itself, or the container.  Regardless, it doesn't really matter, does it?  If we need something, we need it.  If we can make do without and use supplies we already have on hand, it's best to learn that now and avoid panicking later.

So today we have recipes for glue and paste.  

Kid's Glue
1 1/2 cups cold water, divided
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch

In a saucepan, stir together 3/4 cup water, corn syrup, and vinegar.  Bring this mixture to a full boil.

In a separate cup, combine the cornstarch and the remaining 3/4 cup cold water and stir until smooth.

Slowly stir the cornstarch mixture into the boiling corn syrup and vinegar. Return the mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute.

Remove glue from heat and let cool. Store in a sealed container.

Waterproof Glue
2 tablespoons lukewarm water
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons nonfat milk (3 tablespoons water + 2 teaspoons dry milk powder)
2 drops clove or thyme essential oil, optional

In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water and stir to dissolve.  Set aside for 1 hour to let thicken.

In a very small pan, heat the milk until it starts to steam.  Do not let it boil.  Pour the milk into the gelatin mixture and stir it in completely.  Stir in clove or thyme oil as a preservative to let the glue be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks.

The glue must be applied while warm.  Use a stiff paintbrush to apply it.  This is a waterproof glue that will work for dishes; however, it is not heat-proof.  Dishes repaired with this glue cannot be washed in a dishwasher or in hot water.  Warm water will be fine. 

Paste
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon alum, optional
3/4 cup water

Mix the flour, sugar, water, and alum (optional, this is a preservative only) in a small bowl until smooth.  Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan and add the flour mixture.  Reduce heat to medium and cook 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently.  Cool and store in an airtight container.  It will last for several weeks if stored in the refrigerator.

Links to related posts:
Uses for Flour Gone Bad

17 september 23