Switched glue types after a chat with a retired binder at the shop

I ran into a guy named Frank at the bindery supply store last Thursday. He saw me grabbing PVA and told me to try paste instead for my leather repair jobs. He said PVA dries too rigid and cracks over time on flexible spines, which made sense because I had a book come back after 6 months with a split hinge. I tried his suggested wheat paste mix on a 1920s novel I was working on. The difference in flexibility was night and day, it actually moves with the cover now. Has anyone else had better luck switching glue types for specific projects?

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1 Comment

max_ross5h ago

Stick with wheat paste for old books, PVA's great for new construction but not antique leather.