Bad week with PVA glue cost me a whole project

Tried a new batch of PVA last Tuesday and it just wouldn't set right. Woke up the next morning and the spine was still tacky. Lost a whole rebind of a 1940s novel I was working on for a client. Had to peel the leather off and start from scratch. Turns out the glue was old stock from a supplier in Chicago. Anyone else run into bad batches of adhesive before?

4 comments

4 Comments

paigep201mo ago

Honestly I've never had a bad batch of PVA in 15 years.

kelly_nelson951mo ago

Used to be a bit skeptical about cheap PVA myself, always figured you get what you pay for. But after trying a few different brands over the years, have to admit I haven't had a dud yet either. What brand do you usually stick with?

the_morgan1mo ago

Fifteen years without a bad batch? @paigep20 that's wild. I've had some duds over the years, but maybe I'm just unlucky with my timing or the brand I grab.

claire_walker1mo ago

Oh man, this whole PVA thing reminds me of when I tried to switch to a different glue brand for a hobby project last winter. I was making these little birdhouses with my nephew and grabbed whatever was cheapest at the hardware store. Big mistake. The stuff was so watery it ran everywhere and the pieces just slid apart. Ended up tossing the whole thing. But then I went back to my usual brand and it was perfect. I think some things you just get used to a certain feel and consistency. Like with PVA it's not always about the price but more about how it works with what you're doing. I've learned my lesson to just stick with what works even if it costs a bit more.