Japanese Rice Glue(sokui) and Use

Intro: Japanese Rice Glue(sokui) and Use

Japanese rice glue(sokui) is used all over japan for book binding and anything that uses paper. It can be used to stick paper to anything imaginable. Follow the steps to make an easy sokui.

STEP 1: Prepare the Rice

Take the rice and put into the an grinder. Grind for around 15 seconds or more as per the rice you are using. Grind it to a fine powder.

STEP 2: Mix the Sokui

Add the rice powder and water into a heavy base utensil and mix well. Put it on flame when mixed thoroughly.

STEP 3: Boil the Sokui

Start with a high flame and bring the flame down to low when the mix starts to bubble. Keep stirring the mix or the mix will stick to the bottom. You can add more water if required as per the texture of the final mush. Keep checking for lumps, press the mix with thumb and index figure. It should feel like glue. Finally the pulp should be the texture of thick porridge. Remove from heat and let it cool.

STEP 4: Preserve the Sokui

Preserve the freshly made glue in an airtight bottle. You can add some salt to increase the shelf life of the glue. You can add little water to change the texture of the sokui if required.

Advice: This measurement makes 2 huge bottles of glue. You can decrease the quantity to make smaller batch of sokui.

Note: Don't keep it in the refrigerator or it will not be usable any more.

STEP 5: Using the Sokui

Using the sokui is easy. This is a test of gluing paper to cardboard. You can apply the sokui with a thick brush or easier, with your figure to the application surface. The sokui takes little more time than pva glue to dry. Once dry gives the same effect.

Go ahead! Make some sokui.

Comments

[vbanaszak]

Wonderful! I used to use store bought rice paste. I can now make it myself. This would make a great gift for paper artists too as the hollidays aproach.

[beentheredidntdothat]

Awesome, this sir, is great. No 3D Printer or CNC Router or Laser Cutter required.
I need this soon and didn't think to use anything but white glue. Rice has no gluten and can be unstuck if necessary. Wheat paste does have gluten and doesn't unstick so easily. Years ago while making pasta I checked for doneness by tossing a noodle at the ceiling to see if it stuck. It did, and lacking a chair or ladder, I left it there. Two years later I decided it was time to retrieve the noodle. It came away with the paint.
Do you study martial arts? I appears your thumb and index finger have no nerve endings left in them as you are sticking them into a pot of bubbling rice mush to check for lumps. I drip hot quesadilla cheese down my chin and I'm whimpering like a baby.
Thanks for this.

[artworker]

HA HA! No martial art! Cool the rice glue down to room temperature before using it.

[LynneDe]

Does this glue bubble the paper? I make cards, and one-of-a-kind gifts, and use a lot of glue in them, I would like a nice alternative to the commercial kind if I could find it.

Also, can this be made using rice flour instead of grinding the rice yourself? I am gluten-free and have rice flour on hand more than rice. If that would work also, awesome, and if not, I'd like to know before using it. Thank you for sharing this tutorial. Blessings!

[artworker]

No bubbling. Just over cook it to release the starch totally. You may want to make a small test batch and check it to your satisfaction.
Rice flour from the market should be better as it is of finer consistency than the one made at home. Just check if there are additives which might change the outcome.

[LoveC2]

What amount of water to rice flour would you use? You don’t mention how much flour your rice made.

[artworker]

Default ratio of rice to water should be 1:5. This ratio may vary with different rice varieties. I used 100gm rice. Made 2 bottles like the image shown.

[Aristarco]

Yes, you can use rice flour. My mom use to do this paste with rice flour but also corn starch and potato starch if available. If I remember correctly, it's the gluten protein what makes the adhesion occur but I might remember incorrectly. Use two or three spoons to make a test portion. And no, it doesn't bubble. Not that I can remember. Here in México we use this paste to make piñatas and the paper used to decorate them is very thin but it's not damaged and makes no bubbles.

[Cat00x]

I'm curious if the glue brush can be rinsed with water, and if the glue will affect the sink drain. I'm assuming it's water-soluble, but wanted to check. Thanks for this. I'm looking forward to making some for bookbinding!

[artworker]

Don't let the glue dry (or refrigerate). Once dry the glue is rock solid although biodegradable. I am not able to remove the label from the glue bottle which I have stuck using the same glue. Brush is easy to clean.

[LoveC2]

Thank you! It’s a safe effective glue I can use to make toys for my parrots.