Sealing time

Some time in the ‘80s I picked up a roll of raw canvas on special discount at Utrecht’s Third Avenue store in Manhattan. I purchased some rabbit skin glue granules from Pearl Paint, along with a tub of oil primer. I have only a few scraps of the canvas left at this time, but a good amount of the glue granules and primer. I’ve been painting on wood panels a lot in recent years, and to be economical, have purchased unprimed boards and panels, and seal and prime them myself. It is not very difficult at all.

Preparing the rabbit skin glue is just a matter of soaking a few tablespoons of granules in about a quart of water overnight, and warming up the gelatinous mixture next day or so by placing the container with the mixture in a larger pot or container of very hot water, to soften the gel to a liquid.

Then it’s just a matter of brushing it in the panel. I have some inexpensive MDF panels which need to be sealed on both sides to prevent any possible warping. Not much of a risk, I think, at the smaller ( 8×10 or so) sizes I use most.

Dries in a day or so. Next it’s time to prime. This costs pennies per board between sealing and priming, so it’s definitely worth the effort!