Wheatpaste

Wheatpaste is a very simple glue that will cost you under a buck a gallon to make. It's just flour and water. The main advantage of wheatpaste is not only its cost, but if you need large quantities of glue, you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen. No need to run to the store and buy anything.

Step 1 Background (skip to recipe below)

There are lots of different ratios for flour to water posted online, but people who make it in large batches, and actually know what they're doing for recommend a ratio of flour to water 1:4.
(As in one cup flour and 4 cups water.) This ratio is suitable for glue, and when dry it will appear fairly clear, so it is the ratio I will use.

Wheatpaste is known to be just as strong as diluted white glue (stronger than straight glue) when used on paper or pours materials.

White flour is recommended over whole wheat flour, although whole wheat can be used. Whole wheat contains all parts of the wheat: fiber, protein, and endosperm. White flour has been processed to contain only the endosperm which is almost entirely starch.

Comments

[batonas]

any kind of flour or starch can be used for this glue, starch is released from the flour when heated in water, I have used this glue with paper and its actualy better than white glue and mutch more cheaper.

[Big jermini]

nice 'ible. One question though. Are there any other ingredients that can be added to this to make it stronger? I mean something that everybody, or at least most people would have in the house.

To all grammar Nazis: Most of us dont really care. i speak it. u understand it. thats all that really matters.

Huked on fonicks werked fer mee!

[JohnJY]

Is wheat-paste graffiti permanent?

[stibler10]

it sticks to walls and such pretty bloody good but if you were to come along with a sand blaster you're pretty screwed :)

[adsandy]

Could I link to this page in one of my upcomming instructables?

[kzaaaaa]

Another use for this, and my personal favorite, is to tar and feather someone. Since this doesn't stain and tar does (plus, let's be honest, who has tar anymore!?), it's a much less evil way of doing it, though still equally embarrassing!

[summation]

Thanks for aggregating all the info into one place! You may want to proofread though :)

[theRIAA]

typo.. where?

[snoyes]

It's boorish to be this pedantic, but since you asked... not only it's cost -> its cost skip to recipie below -> recipe There is a lot of different ratios -> There are the people that make it in -> the people who Basic Recipie -> Recipe to prolong it's shelf life -> its shelf life disprove the flowing, it it simply -> the following, it is

[Brit4Shains]

Being boorishly pedantic... I'd like to correct 2 of the corrections... In both cases, since the subject of the sentence is the wheatpaste (it), it is perfectly correct to state "it's" since the cost and the shelf life are related to "it". "It's" is not only a contraction for "it is" (which I agree is often misused) but can also be used to show possession, which the author did properly.

[MikeBiggs]

I was a little confused on this point so to clarify. In nearly all cases the apostrophe can be used to signify possession, however in order to stop any confusion between "it" and "it is" "its" is the exception to this rule. You've gotta' love the english language, its got a rule for everything and an exception for every rule!

[snoyes]

ahem - it's got a rule...

[MikeBiggs]

.... How embarrassing. Ahh well, such is life!

[emilygracedavis]

 ahem - it has a rule...

[b1russell]

So totally off-topic - but how lovely to find that I'm not alone in my "grammar Nazi-ism" (nice to note that my kids noticed my attempts to correct their grammar - spelling was a waste)!

By the way, theRIAA, thanks a BUNCH for the wheatpaste recipe - and including uses for it!

[NikkiHoward69]

Sorry, please check your grammar source. "it's" is Always IT IS. The easiest way to remember is- "The cat lost its tail." See, there's no "tail" or rather no apostrophe. The other way to remember is to try to say "it is" wherever you have placed the apostrophe. Can you say, "The cat lost it is tail"? Nope, not really. ;-) Yes, grammar IS my life. LOL Or at least a part of it!!

[snoyes]

I find nowhere that "it's" may be used to show possession. The American Heritage Dictionary and Strunk's Elements of Style are both quite clear that "its" is the possessive, and "it's" is only a contraction for "it is" or "it has"

[summation]

actually, you're incorrect here. "it's" should not be used to show possession. Here's a quick test you can use to check which one should be used: Try replacing "it's" with "it is" in the sentence. If it sounds wrong, change it to "its"

[theRIAA]

thanks

[GEEK1]

Will it stick fabric together?

[a4great]

could you not just add something gritty like iron filings or sand and make sandpaper?

[theRIAA]

maybe to epoxy, but this wont hold.

[a4great]

oh.....(sad face)

[nrrrdmom]

what about using wheat starch instead of flour? Do you think it would make a difference?

[theRIAA]

I don't know. Assume it would act the same.

[keikothemeowmeow]

Great instructable :) I hope you don't mind me linking to it for an instructable of my own where I will be using wheat paste?

[theRIAA]

no problemo.

[SdaMaster]

I used this glue to glue 4 layers of cardboard ogether to make people on a homecoming float worked great

[ftworavens1]

I make paper mache masks . I have never had to heat up my wheat paste . I have thought about wood glue and a little bit of paint . Is there a reason for heating it up' try this soak newspaper in water .It gets the ink out . Mash it up with your hands until it turns granular . Then add a little bit of flour to it . This makes a cheap form of clay .

[r0botluv]

Don't forget to clean your cooking ware immediately afterward!!! Although not sticky while wet, this is a pain to remove once dry. Save yourself some hassle and clean your pot asap after the glue is mixed. Great tut, I've been searching for that ratio.. THanks!

[DELETED_PeeWeeBee]

(removed by author or community request)

[theRIAA]

but the thing is, if Im going to the store to get gelatin and glycerin, I might as well just get a gallon of white glue...

[finfan7]

I used this a few times in my early years. Never cooked it though. What's the difference between cooked and uncooked.

[theRIAA]

a lot stickier, probably dries harder.

[NikkiHoward69]

Nice instructional, thank you. I have never done decoupage before and I am wanting to try it. Can this paste be used for decoupage, do you know? Thanks again.

[theRIAA]

Yes, but it won't turn out as good as varnish or polyurethane would. But this should dry pretty clear, smooth and hard.

[GEEK1]

Does the wheat paste smell or crack over time?

[thenormand]

Argentine recip:
If you want to keep this mix very long without rotten, just ad a spoon of acetic acid (vinegar) and will prevent from bad smeling.
we use this mix to fix political adds during pool campaigns...and we have campaigns almost always!!!!

[theRIAA]

thank you, just added it.

[GEEK1]

is the glue when applied to paper or cloth strong enough to withstand a 20 feet drop?