Craftworks

Recently rebuilt, this craftworks has an almost new appearance to it.  New work benches are arranged against the walls, a few new pieces of work lay out on them.  The center of the room is dominated by two forges, almost any size piece of metal could be worked from the heat of these over-sized forges. A small forge resides in a corner, apparently for more delicate operations.  It is apparent from the new mortar that all the forges have been rebuilt from the floor up.  Near each forge are bins for coal and odd pieces of metal.  Above the center forges large vent hoods draw great volumes of air out of the craftworks.  Over and around the Office door are hooks for displaying samples of Smithcraft work, along with objects that may be for sale.  Sorted piles of reclaimed scrap metal lay against the back wall. 

You see Forge, Glass Furnace, Gemcrafter Scroll, and Flamethrower Class here.

Obvious exits:

Smith Office     Reception Hallway

Dralin walks up from the Reception Hall.

Dralin says, "Hello mr Paric sir."

Paric smiles and glances up at the apprentice upon hearing his name.  "Yes...Dralin."

Dralin says, "I'm just waiting for the next lesson."

Paric chuckles and nods, "Well...it shouldn't be too much longer."

Melissa walks up from the Reception Hall.

Melissa says, "hi, " she mentions, absolutely bored "what's up ?"

Paric smiles, "If you want you can take a sit while we wait for the rest of the apprentices." 

Paric smiles, "Then everyone can learn all about hide glues."

Dralin says, "yes sir."

Dralin sits down obediently.

Moving around to the other side of the work bench, Paric smiles, "Hello everyone.  I take it that only the two of you will be here today!"

Melissa looks up, blankly, she sits down and gives a grin.

Paric chuckles, "Good...then why don't we get started.  In case you don't know why you are here today.  It is because today we will be talking about hide glue."  He grins as the last words slip from his mouth.

Melissa stands, she starts slinking towards the door, breath held << please don't let him see me, please don't let him see me,,, no lesson, no learning, no !>>

Paric frowns at Melissa.  "Hmmm...oh Melissa, where are you going?"

Melissa grins big, being caught " Oh... um.... " she stutters, and points to the door... " Out ?"

Paric smiles and shakes his head pointing to the seat that she had occupied.  "Why don't you have a seat.  You'll probably find that this lecture will actually be helpful later on..."

Melissa frowns, slinking over, her plot deminished. She sits down, Dralin, don't laugh.

Paric smiles. "Okay...where were we...ah yes!"

"Hide glue has been used since the beginning of woodcraft.  Why? " Paric queries with a smile and a brief pause.   "Because it is a simple, yet strong glue,  that can, if necessary, be reversed so that you can reassemble a joint."

Paric continues speaking as he moves over to the end of the workbench where several objects are sitting.  "Today, you will learn about how to make and apply hide glue."

Melissa watches patiently.

"Okay, can you tell me what hide glue is?"  asks Paric with a chuckle.

Melissa grins "It's either glue that hides, or Glue made from hides, or it's where the glue seamline is hidden

Dralin says, "what she said."

Paric chuckles and shakes his head.  "Well, one out of three....  Hide glue is made from the hides and bones of animals.  And after an extensive washing, we come up with a gelatin that is known as hide glue.  The gelatin is dried to form granules or 'pearls' which are odorless and vary in color from light amber to dark brown."

Melissa looks over her shoulder, when Paric isn't looking, she switches her seat, beside Dralin, yeah, ! We get to torture each other ! :>  

"To make hide glue, you will need several things." Paric says as his hand points to several objects on the benchtop."

"You will need some hide glue, water, a double boiler, balance, brush and a glass jar." Paric says pointing to each in turn.

From Melissa's shoulder, Peridot sighs. Remaining curled up. She thinks she's the only one listening

Melissa looks to Paric, as her hand slips behind Dralin to  tap the opposite side of his shoulder. Then tries to look innocent.

Dralin turns to Melissa, "yes?"

Paric smiles and looks at each of the apprentices to make sure that they are paying attention.  "Hmmm...does everyone understand this so far?"

Paric smiles and awaits an answer in some form from the two apprentices.

Melissa nods to Paric

Paric smiles and looks over at Dralin, "Well..."

Dralin says, "understood that perfectly sir."

Paric smiles and nods.

Paric picks up the balance and moves it to the front of the benchtop so that everyone can see.  "Okay...there are several ratios of water to glue that you can use.  I prefer to use a three to one ratio, " he says a smile. 

Melissa nods and smiles, she leans back, leaning back still, uh-oh ! Falling back ! "ACK ! " she shrieks as she falls off the seat

Paric frowns and shakes his head and then turns back to where he had left off.

Paric picks up a small jar of water.  "First weigh out the water you will be using," he says as he places another jar on the scale and proceeds to pour a small amount of water in it.  He looks at the gauge on the balance and then place three small weights on the counter balance platform.   He removes the water and all but one of the weights from the balance.

Dralin says, "is that salt water or fresh water?"

Melissa makes a whiny voice " Ouchy " she sits up, besides her pride being bruised, she think she broke her tail end ;>

Paric smiles at Dralin, "Actually...you should use fresh water.  We've pretty much removed most of the impurities from the gelatin initially, we don't really want to add salt to the glue."

Paric places another empty jar on the balance while looking at the gauge.  He then carefully starts to pour a small amount of dark brown granules into it.  When the gauge on the balance appears to be even, Paric removes the jar and weight from the balance.  Moving the balance to another side of the workbench, Paric continues, "Okay...now we have a proper ratio of three parts water to one part hide glue granules."

"Now we mix these two ingredients together, " Paric says grinning.  "And we make sure that all the granules are completely wet.  Once that is done, we will let it sit for about one to two hours while the granules soak up the water."

Dralin says, "k I'll be back then."

Dralin starts walking to the door.

Paric grins, "Okay...so who is up for a two hour break!"

Melissa waves her hand and runs out,,, Peri screaming her protest !

Melissa hugs Paric! Paric is hugged!

Melissa walks down the wide stone staircase into the Reception Hallway.

Paric grins, "Not a chance...as I've prepared some of this stuff a little earlier today!" he says with a chuckle as he picks up jar of the workbench containing some swollen, sticky granules. 

Dralin says, "you serious?"

You paged Melissa with: From afar, Paric chuckles, "You don't get off that easily..."

You paged Melissa with: From afar, Paric grins, "I've made up a previous batch....get back in here.."

Dralin says, "sir, Melissa is gone"

Paric smiles, "Hmmmm...well, I guess we'll wait for her to return then."

You sense that Melissa is looking for you in Reception Hallway (#2402).

She pages, "meanie :P"

Melissa walks up from the Reception Hall.

"Okay...as you can see here..." says Paric smiling as he shows everyone in the room the contents of the jar.  "The granules have absorbed all the water and are now almost 'jelly-like'.  At this point in time, we will put the jar in the double-boiler."

Dralin thinks of putting Melissa in the boiler with it

Paric walks over to a small  double-boiler sitting on top of a small metal tripod.  Underneath the pot is a small glass bottle with liquid in it, and descending into the bottle is a small wick.  The wick is lit and the flame  licks up on the bottom of the double boiler.  

Naaja has arrived.

Melissa watches and gives a nod to Paric.

Paric places the jar into the pot and watches it carefully, "The secret is to not burn the glue." he says glancing over at the apprentices.

"When the glue is at the right temperature...between 130 to 140 degrees...you are ready for gluing!"  Paric looks back down at the glue in the double-boiler, then back up to the apprentices.  "Okay...that should be ready in a few moments.   Now, hide glue has a fairly short open time compared to other glues -- about one minute, therefore it is really important to dry assemble the joints first."

Melissa nods, understanding the importance of time in this

Paric smiles, "Hide glue can't compensate for poor joinery, so it is important that you carefully make sure that all the joints fit.  If the room is cold, it would probably be a good idea that you warm it or the wood up first, otherwise the glue may set to jelly before it has a chance to form the initial 'tack' bond."

Paric smiles, "The air should also be fairly dry as high humidity can alter the glue's consistency and affect how it holds the joints together."

Dralin nods.

"As you have less than a minute to apply hide glue and clamp the joints in place, you may wish to break up large projects into smaller assemblies.  First brush the glue onto both joint surfaces like so..." he says taking a brush and dipping it into the hide glue, then brushes the glue onto the joint surface of two pieces of wood.

"Then you place the two sides together like so..." Paric says joining the two ends with glue and picking up some clamps he fixes them to the wood to keep the joint in place.  "And then place the clamps in place.    You can clean up any excesses of glue with a damp rag."

Paric smiles, "Don't be to worried about it if a little hide glue remains.  It is stainable and has been used as a pore filler for this very reason."

Paric smiles, "Okay....so are there any questions?"

Dralin says, "what's hide glue like after it dries?"

Dralin says, "is it stretchy?"

Dralin says, "or hard?"

Paric smiles, "It is actually produces a fairly hard surface which can take stains or even be used as a filler for very porous woods.  But it usually dries somewhat clearish or yellowish."

Paric smiles at Dralin, "Hmmm, does that answer your question?"

Dralin says, "yepp."

Dralin makes a ball out of the glue and carves it into a diamond shape

Dralin says, "I'm can use this for GemCraft class"

Paric chuckles, "Okay...any other questions?  Actually, it can be used in gemcrafting, however, it is usually used in the woodcraft specialty."

Melissa hms "Are there any glues made for gems ?

Paric smiles, "Hmmm...the hide glue could be used.  However, if it was to ever come in contact with water, it could be reversed.  The next time Journeywoman Moiraine is at the Smithcraft Hall, we'll have to ask her that very question."

Melissa nods solemnly.

Paric smiles at the two apprentices, "Well, if neither of you have any other questions, why don't we call it a day."

Dralin says, "yes sir."

Paric smiles and nods, "Then with that said, I'll see you all in our next lesson."

Dralin twiddles his thumbs

Paric extinguishes the flamer under the boiler, then cleans up the work area making sure that all of the materials are put away.  Smiling, he then heads out of the Craftworks.