Chat with a retired binder who glued every joint set me straight on my workflow

Tbh I was helping this guy Ernie pack up his workshop after he sold his place near Asheville, and he told me he never once used a sewing frame in 40 years. He just glued every text block and swore it held up better than thread for most general books. Got me thinking maybe I spend way too much time fidgeting with thread tension on jobs that don't need it. Anyone else ever ditch a traditional step after talking to an old pro?

3 comments

3 Comments

kai83910d ago

Read somewhere that old school binders in Japan used a rice starch glue that was so strong it outlasted thread on some books. @sanchez.julia saw a post about that too I think. Ernie probably knew that trick with the PVA, letting it tack up before pressing. Saves so much time not worrying about kettle stitches and tapes. Just a solid glue joint and good endpapers.

corap6110d ago

Swear by glue myself for most jobs honestly.

sanchez.julia10d ago

Oh I just read this wild tip the other day about using super glue for small cuts instead of bandages! Someone online said their grandpa was a carpenter and did it all the time. Have you tried that or is it more for like fixing broken stuff around the house?