# How can I improvise some form of organic gum for rolling papers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975 "2018-06-12T16:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/1 "2018-06-12T16:38:13Z")
I had a large pack of Raw brand organic hemp papers. A cup of water was spilled on them. I set the pack out to dry, thinking that they might be still usable eventually after they’re dried out. The problem is that the gummed edge has dissolved, so while the papers are in fact dry and usable, they no longer have a sticky edge for holding them together once they’re rolled. Rather than buy a new pack of rolling papers, is there any organic material, food-related or something, that I might already have in the house, that I can use to make an improvised strip of glue to go on the side of the papers? This would let me continue to use them (waste not, want not) and I’d have that perenially-satisfying feeling of using creativity to rig up a solution to a problem. Like McGuyver. Anyone have any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/2 "2018-06-12T17:51:59Z")
You can make glue from [milk](https://www.education.com/activity/article/Make_Homemade_Glue/). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/3 "2018-06-12T18:23:55Z")
Saliva? ETA: There are plenty of people who use papers[intentionally glue-less.](https://www.rollingpaperdepot.com/Ungummed-Rolling-Papers) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/4 "2018-06-12T18:26:08Z")
Anything sticky applied in a thin layer should work: jelly, honey, syrup, caramel, fluff, etc. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/5 "2018-06-12T18:28:20Z")
We use beaten eggs to seal egg rolls. But you’re gonna have to do it each time I would think. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/6 "2018-06-12T18:46:46Z")
egg white? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/7 "2018-06-12T18:51:34Z")
Flour and water paste ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/8 "2018-06-12T18:54:37Z")
Semen? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/9 "2018-06-12T18:59:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Saliva? > > ETA: There are plenty of people who use papers[intentionally glue-less.](https://www.rollingpaperdepot.com/Ungummed-Rolling-Papers) This might be (is) gross, but you don’t just want plain saliva. Go ahead a hock a loogie, bring it to the tip of your tongue and dab some off with your finger. You need a little mucus to act as the binder. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/10 "2018-06-12T19:13:48Z")
No white school glue at your place? Because that would work handily. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/11 "2018-06-12T19:18:25Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > No white school glue at your place? Because that would work handily. Would you wanna burn and deeply inhale “white school glue”? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/12 "2018-06-12T19:45:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Would you wanna burn and deeply inhale “white school glue”? No; it sounds offensively racist! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/13 "2018-06-12T19:58:23Z")
1 more vote for honey, or extra saliva. The Raws I get never stick worth a crap anyway. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/14 "2018-06-12T20:32:09Z")
Corn starch glue is the simplest, dries fast and holds great. Here is a recipe - [DIY Starch Glue | Hometalk](https://www.hometalk.com/30563587/diy-starch-glue?expand_all_questions=1) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/15 "2018-06-14T17:33:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Would you wanna burn and deeply inhale “white school glue”? That stuff is just PVA as far as I know. It’s pretty non-toxic by itself, and I don’t see that its combustion products would be any more harmful than all the other stuff in the paper and its contents! You’d only need the tiniest smear. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/16 "2018-06-14T17:39:24Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > This might be (is) gross, but you don’t just want plain saliva. Go ahead a hock a loogie, bring it to the tip of your tongue and dab some off with your finger. You need a little mucus to act as the binder. S’not nice. ---
**Author:** ![Perderabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Perderabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perderabo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-improvise-some-form-of-organic-gum-for-rolling-papers/815975/17 "2018-06-16T03:16:29Z")
I smoke cigars. I have a small bottle of cigar glue to make repairs. My glue is made from pectin. Gum arabic is also used. There are other glues used in cigar factories. These are all plant products.