The Resin for the Season

The first step I need to take (to make pine pitch) is collecting pine resin. This can be harvested from any pine tree where a branch was broken or bark has been scratched away. It builds up into big old crystals and sap. Sticky fingers woo!

Lucky for me i have a good leaky tree by my window!
I've collected about 2/3 of a soup can's worth so far. Attempting to use the wedge method for collecting more. I cut a triangle in the side of the tree and wedged a piece of wood below so that the sap builds up on the peg.





Step 2 will be determining what kind of filler i want to use for hardening it. The filler determines the flexibility or hardness of the pitch. First I will be trying Powdered stone as I -hope- to use it to repair my busted potter's wheel!