Had to pick between PVA and paste for my last rebinding job - went with PVA and kind of regret it

I was working on a 1920s novel that had this really brittle spine and I couldn't decide between using straight PVA or a wheat paste mix. I went with PVA because it dries faster and I was on a deadline, figured the extra strength would help. But now the hinges feel way too stiff, like the book is fighting me when I open it. The old paper just doesn't flex with the PVA like it would with a softer paste. Has anyone else run into this issue with old paperbacks and had better luck with a different adhesive blend?

3 comments

3 Comments

lisak261mo ago

Mix a bit of paste into the PVA next time. Softens it right up.

morgan_ramirez1mo ago

Have you tried a 50/50 mix instead of straight PVA?

abby_wilson516h ago

@lisak26's paste trick helped me a ton when I tried that same 50/50 mix.