A master bookbinder told me my glue was all wrong and I almost lost it

I was at a workshop last month and an old guy named Frank looked at my binding and asked what adhesive I used. When I said PVA he just shook his head and said 'you're gonna have those pages cracking in a year or two.' He was right though, I switched to a starch paste mix for my last project and the flexibility is night and day different. The pages lay way flatter and I don't get that stiff feel anymore. Has anyone else had an old timer call them out on something basic like glue or thread?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_ryan12d ago

Nah, PVA has its place but Frank's got a point for traditional binding. Stiff joints and cracking spines happen all the time with PVA if you're not careful. The old timers have been doing this way longer than any of us, they've seen bindings fall apart years later. Eric, you might just not have had a project sit long enough to see the issues pop up. Full disclosure, I used to swear by PVA too until a 5 year old book of mine started getting those hairline cracks along the spine. Not saying you gotta ditch it completely, but don't write off that experience just cause it's old school.

eric_ramirez6712d ago

Nah, I gotta push back a little here. PVA's been fine for me on most projects, that old school glue snobbery gets a bit overblown.

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