Just realized I was using wrong glue for 6 months straight

I was at a workshop in Portland last month and this old bookbinder watched me glue a spine. He goes "why are you using PVA for that section?" I had no clue there was a difference between PVA and wheat paste for certain parts. Turns out I was using the wrong adhesive for all my text blocks. My books kept pulling apart after a few weeks and I thought it was normal. Anyone else get stuck using the wrong glue forever and not realize it?

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sethc125mo ago

What is it about glue that makes us all think we've got it figured out until someone with grey hair and a smudge of wheat paste on their sweater decides to school us? I spent two years using superglue on book hinges because I thought "stronger is better" and wondered why everything shattered like glass. We all have that one craft supply we've been wildly misusing, just glad you didn't accidentally glue your fingers together for a whole season.

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loganhart5mo ago

Man I feel this in my soul... used construction adhesive on a stained glass project once. Learned that lesson real quick.

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