Falling out of favor around 50 years ago due to the introduction of synthetic glues, fish and hide glues have seen a resurgence in popularity among woodworkers who have discovered the glues’ distinct advantages. Fish glue is made from the skins of fish and is highly effective and versatile. It is good for bonding dissimilar materials, providing that at least one of them is porous. It tacks up quickly and has a long open time, making it useful for assembling complex projects. Hide glue is made from the connective tissue of animals. In its raw form, it comes in granules, although liquid hide glues are available as well. It tends to shrink as it dries, drawing components together without suffering from “creep.” Hide glue is transparent and takes stains and finishes well. Both fish and hide glues are reversible with just a bit of heat and moisture, easy to repair and easy to clean off, especially when it comes to removing uncured squeeze-out. Full curing times for fish and hide glues vary between 12 and 24 hours.