Finishing off the ends of horse hair

I am using horse hair in a project for a customer. I have secured the
finely braided hair in some silver crimp type end-caps. I would like
to add some bees wax or glue for extra protection but I am wondering
if epoxy or even super glue will break down the hair over time and
cause it to fall apart. Any help would be much appreciated!

I am using horse hair in a project for a customer. I have secured
the finely braided hair in some silver crimp type end-caps. I would
like to add some bees wax or glue for extra protection but I am
wondering if epoxy or even super glue will break down the hair over
time and cause it to fall apart. 

I would suggest hide glue, which you can get from a decent wood
workers supply. It’s one of the types of glue that is not likely to
breakd down the hair before natural wear and tear will.

Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL

Horesehair used in violin bows is not glued but wedged into place
even though some tension is involved - maybe the early makers found
that glues didn’t work? However, Cyanoacrylates ( superglues ) are
used medically and so should be compatible with biological
materials. I would probably look at the flexible cyanoacrylate glues
such as this

[ebay link removed. sorry no ebay links on orchid]

Ian

Go ahead and use glue on your horsehair - glue has been used with
hair for many long years. I recommend a jeweler’s glue (2-stage
epoxy or E6000), not a water soluble glue or super-glue.

Sandra Graves,
Isis Rising