miles825•2mo agoTop Commenter

Changed my mind about using PVA for everything after a workshop in Portland

Honestly, I used to think PVA glue was the only adhesive you needed for book repairs. A binder at the Pacific Northwest Book Arts Center showed me how it can actually make paper brittle over time, especially on older books from before 1950. Now I switch to wheat starch paste for anything with delicate paper or leather. Anyone else have a go-to glue they use for specific jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

sandrap402mo ago

Watched a friend try to fix a family bible with PVA... it basically fused a few pages together.

noah_walker162mo ago

That's the worst! Old paper needs special glue that stays flexible, not the regular craft kind.

the_logan23h ago

I used to think any old glue would work, just slap something on there and call it done. But then I tried fixing a vintage book with regular school glue and it was a disaster. The pages got all wavy and the paper tore when I tried to separate them. Now I get it, you absolutely need that flexible stuff that moves with the paper. Your comment really clicked for me after that experience. It's like the difference between a cheap bandage and one that actually stays on.