A Sticky Situation : Comparing the Adhesive Strength of Pine Resin to Commercial Glues

For hundreds of years, Indigenous people of British Columbia have taken advantage of the adhesive and waterproof properties of resin, a natural excretion of many conifers, to strengthen and waterproof their tools, vessels, and buildings. The study we conducted examined the adhesive strengths of unpurified pine resin and an approximate 50:50 ratio mixture of pine resin and beeswax on wood surfaces. We aimed to evaluate pine resin as a natural alternative to certain commercially marketed glues by comparing their respective adhesive strengths. Specifically, a comparison was made to the adhesive abilities of Elmer’s all-purpose craft glue, fish glue, and hot glue from a glue gun. It was predicted that the pine resin would show significant adhesive strength comparable to certain commercial glues, and it was indeed found to have a mean adhesive strength statistically similar to that of commercially sold fish glue, but dissimilar to Elmer’s glue and glue from a glue gun. However, large standard deviations were present in the mean forces of separation for the adhesives, indicating that similarities likely exist even between Elmer’s glue and pine resin. This implicates the potential for pine resin to function as an adhesive for casual usages on wood surfaces and as an alternative to chemical-based glues and commercially sold fish glue.Science, Faculty ofUnreviewedUndergraduat