Serious question, heard a binder at the Portland show say they never use PVA for repairs

Honestly, they were telling a small group that wheat paste is the only 'correct' adhesive for any historical repair, even on modern books. Ngl, I've used Jade 711 for years on small tears and it holds up fine without the extra prep time. What's your go-to glue for a quick, solid fix on a paperback spine?

2 comments

2 Comments

val3238d ago

Wow, my buddy tried that wheat paste only rule on a beat up cookbook and the spine split again in a month. He switched back to a simple pH neutral PVA like Jade for those everyday fixes. Some purists just live in a different world.

the_wesley8d ago

But what's the point of a rule if it doesn't work? That's the thing with some bookbinding ideas, they sound good but fail in real life. Your buddy's story proves it. Wheat paste is great for some old paper but it's just not strong enough for a busted spine. Using the right glue for the job isn't being a purist, it's just being smart. Why let a book fall apart to follow a made up rule?