Finally figured out my spine glue problem

For the first 3 years of binding I just used whatever PVA I grabbed at the art store. My spines would crack after like 6 months every time. Last winter I switched to a ph-neutral PVA and a wheat paste mix and suddenly my books are laying flat and staying flexible. I tested it on 8 practice books over 4 months before I trusted it. Now I'm kicking myself for not trying this sooner. Has anyone else had a different ratio of PVA to paste work better for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

grayh6011d ago

Wait wait wait... "8 practice books over 4 months"? That's some serious dedication right there. I can barely get myself to test a new glue on one book before I just go for it and hope for the best. You must have nerves of steel to sit on a formula for that long before putting it into real use. I would have cracked by month two and just started slapping it on my good projects. But honestly that patience probably saved you a lot of heartbreak later. Gotta respect the process even if it drives me crazy.

gray_perez524d ago

Fifteen books in a row? How is your house still standing

roses6911d ago

Laughing at "nerves of steel" like I wasn't sweating bullets the whole time. My husband kept finding piles of gluey books around the house and asking if I'd lost my mind. Honestly I just got really stubborn about it after ruining like 15 books in a row with cheap PVA. The waiting drove me crazy too but I figured if I mess up one more time I'd have to sell a kidney to replace all the paper I wasted. Did you ever try a different glue and instantly regret not testing it first or am I just extra paranoid?