I finally stopped using PVA glue after a book fell apart on me

Last month I bound a novel for a friend using PVA like I always do, but the spine cracked after 3 days of light use. An old timer at the Book Arts Fair in Portland told me I should switch to wheat paste for hand-bound books since it stays flexible. Has anyone else had better luck with wheat paste over PVA for jambs and spines?

3 comments

3 Comments

cora81317d ago

oh hold on, I gotta jump in here a bit. wheat paste is great for some things like paper repairs and cloth covers, but it's actually weaker than PVA for spines on hand-bound books. I've been binding for about 6 years and tried wheat paste on a journal spine once, the pages started pulling away after a month. PVA is actually the standard for a reason, it just needs to be the right kind. Look for a pH neutral PVA that's specifically for bookbinding, not the white glue from a craft store. The cheap stuff dries too rigid and cracks.

pat_harris16d ago

You've got a point, Cora813. I've seen that issue too with wheat paste on spines. But let me ask you this: are you accounting for the humidity where you stored that journal? I've had wheat paste hold up fine in dry climates but fail fast in humid basements. The pH neutral PVA is solid for sure, but wheat paste's reversibility matters for certain restorations. Did you prep the spine with a size coat first, or just apply the paste directly to the text block?

kelly_rivera16d ago

Wheat paste failing in a month sounds like a prep issue, not the paste itself.