Changed my mind on using PVA glue after talking to a old timer at a bindery

Guy named Hank in Seattle swore his books from the 70s are still holding up with PVA because he mixed in a little methyl cellulose. Has anyone else tried that trick or am I stuck using wheat paste forever?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessaperry17d ago

Hank is out here mixing methyl cellulose into PVA like some kind of alchemist from the 70s? That's wild. I saw @walker.julia mention gelatin too, which is a whole other layer of kitchen science going into bookbinding. Never would've guessed people were cracking open the pantry for spine flexibility, but I guess old timers know a thing or two about keeping books from snapping in half.

nina_hall4817d ago

Tbh I saw a post on a bookbinding forum last year where a guy from Chicago swore by adding a tiny bit of gelatin to his PVA. Said it gave it more flexibility and stopped the cracking over time. Haven't tried it myself but Hank's trick sounds legit if an old timer stands by it.

walker.julia17d ago

Ngl I tried the gelatin trick once on a book I was repairing and it actually made a big difference. The spine didn't crack at all after a few months of sitting on my shelf. Honestly worth a shot if you're having trouble with stiffness.