Humidity turned my rebind into a sticky mess

I was finishing a custom journal for a client yesterday, and my workshop felt like a rainforest. I spread my go-to adhesive on the spine, but it stayed gummy and wouldn't hold. The sections kept shifting, and I had to press them down with my hands for AGES. This was a HUGE problem because the paper was delicate and could tear. It got me thinking about how weather really messes with materials. What do other binders do when it's muggy outside? I might try a different glue type, but I'm unsure where to start. Sharing your fixes would be amazing.

3 comments

3 Comments

ivan_schmidt1mo agoMost Upvoted

Have you looked into how the glue's chemical makeup reacts to moisture in the air? @beth_mitchell pointed out the shifting sections, but isn't the real issue how the glue fails to bond when it's wet? What if you pre-dried the spine or used a dehumidifier in your workspace? I'm curious if binders in tropical climates have secret tricks for this.

beth_mitchell1mo ago

Ugh, the shifting sections sound so frustrating.

craig.rose1mo agoMost Upvoted

My first bookbinding teacher swore by PVA glue for everything. Honestly, I used to think the brand was the biggest factor until I tried working in my aunt's Florida garage last summer. The humidity made every joint slip no matter what I used. Tbh, keeping a small space heater running near my table to dry the air made a bigger difference than switching adhesives.