Found a trick for fixing torn endpapers with wheat paste and tissue paper

I tried this last Tuesday on a old textbook from the 1940s. The endpapers were split right at the hinge. Mixed up some wheat paste, cut a strip of Japanese tissue, and brushed it on thin. Let it dry under weight for 24 hours. Held better than any tape I have used. Has anyone else fixed hinge tears this way or do you use something different?

3 comments

3 Comments

logan2715d ago

Yeah that wheat paste and tissue combo is honestly the only thing I trust now for hinge repairs. I did a similar fix on an old encyclopedia from the 50s and it held up way better than any tape or glue I had tried before. @fionamurphy you nailed it with the 1930s novel example, that's exactly the kind of brittle paper that needs the gentle touch of wheat paste. The trick for me was letting it dry under a stack of heavy books for a full day, not just overnight. And I always brush the paste on both sides of the tissue so it really bonds to the paper fibers. It's a bit of a slow process but beats the hell out of those quick fixes that just fall apart later.

fionamurphy5d ago

Oh nice, wheat paste is the way to go. I used that on a 1930s novel hinge and it worked perfectly too.

troyc175d ago

Yeah I've been down that road too. @logan271 is spot on about the full day under heavy books, that extra time makes a big difference. I usually hit the tissue with a thin layer of wheat paste on one side first and let it tack up for a couple minutes before applying it to the hinge. That way it doesn't slide around when you put the weight on it.