Changed my mind about using PVA glue for everything after 6 months

I used to be a die-hard PVA fan for all my bookbinding projects. Then I tried a batch of wheat paste on a rebind of a 1920s novel with brittle paper. After 6 months, the PVA joint on a similar book cracked, but the wheat paste one held firm and stayed flexible. Now I only use PVA for heavy covers or text blocks, and wheat paste for fragile pages and hinges. Has anyone else seen better long-term results switching away from PVA?

2 comments

2 Comments

park.wyatt4h agoProlific Poster

...and it's funny you mention that, because I've noticed a similar thing with other stuff too, not just glue. Like, I used to think that one-size-fits-all solution was always the best for everything, you know? Like using the same heavy-duty cleaner on every surface in the house (big mistake, learned that one the hard way). Turns out, the most specialized tools and methods for each specific job actually last way longer and work better in the long run. It's like that old saying about a jack of all trades being a master of none, but I'm finally starting to see it play out in real life with stuff like this.

lee_butler4h ago

Jack of all trades, master of none, but still better than a master of one... until your countertop dissolves.