Randolph Herr wrote:

> If you keep a small quantity of hot glue in a baby food jar,
> you can put it in a small bowl of water, and then microwave it.

Randolph and everyone:  Around 140 degrees F. is pretty good for hot
glue.  Over 150 degrees and you are asking for trouble.  In a microwave
oven you are buying the trouble.

Microwaves do not heat evenly.  For all of the glue to liquefy, some
portion of it will get very hot, probably as hot as 200 degrees, unless
you use a chemist's microwave-safe magnetically operated internal
stirring device.  I am not saying that the microwaved glue won't work,
but it depends on too many variables.

The skinny on the situation is this:  The strength of hide glue is
a result of its inherent incredibly long protein chains.  Excess heat
begins to break down these chains.  Enough times reheated to a high
temperature, or excessive times spent at over 150 degrees, will net you
completely broken chains.  At this point you have an adhesive with
strength about equal to rubber cement.

Can you get away with higher temperatures for short times?  Probably.
Do you care to take that chance for the want of a 99-cent thermometer?
Your choice.

Jim McFarland