matthewkim•2mo agoMost Upvoted

Shoutout to the old-timer at the guild meeting who told me to stop using PVA for everything

I'd been using PVA for every binding job for like 4 years, but this guy with 30 years experience said try wheat paste on a cloth case - totally different feel, way more forgiving. Has anyone else switched glues for different projects and noticed a big difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_rose1mo ago

Heard a bookbinder once say wheat paste is like cooking - humidity and temperature mess with it way more than PVA, and that's why she only uses it in a climate controlled room. Made sense to me after losing a few projects to that exact crumbly mess in my own basement.

lucaslee2mo ago

Yo wheat paste is way easier on the spine too, less cracking over time.

the_james2mo ago

Hear you @lucaslee but I gotta disagree on wheat paste being easier on spines. I've seen wheat paste dry and pull on paper worse than regular glue, especially in humid basements. The cracking thing might hold up in dry climates, but here it's a total mess after a few months.