There is a difference.  Hot hide glue is stronger.  Hot hide glue comes
in different strengths although very few re-sellers offer the different
grades.  One of the stronger hide glues is used in glass chipping.  The
glue is spread onto glass and when peeled off takes part of the glass
with it leaving what is know as glue chipped glass.

Liquid hide glue in the bottle is not very strong and joints can actually
slip over time.  "Fine Woodworking" magazine has run several articles on
hot hide glue.  One article that was devoted to hot hide  glue was
several years ago and gave detailed information about the different
grades of hide glue made.  The more it is refined the better the holding
power to a point.  "Jello" gelatin is actually refined hide glue.

Hot hide glue is a must in the player piano world.  It is excellent for
veneer work and everything else in a piano.  The old factories used and so
should the piano restorers.  Somewhere is the past MMD's I posted a
list of my suppliers.  One was Garret-Wade in New York City for hide
glue.  It is an easy place to order glue from and five pounds of hide
glue will last you a long time.

The better the glue the less the smell.  The better glue is light tan
in color.  The darker glue is weaker and smells.  Hot hide glue is still
used by Steinway and others today.  Guitar amps are covered in a Tolex
covering that is glued with hot hide glue.  It comes in brick form that
is pliable.  Once you get used to working with it, you will love it.

Don Teach, Shreveport Music Co, 1610 E. Bert Kouns, Shreveport,  LA 71105
dat-smc@juno.com