Had an old school bookbinder tell me to stop using PVA glue for everything

Was at a workshop in Portland last month fixing up a 1800s hymnal and this guy in his 70s walks up, watches me reach for my PVA, and says "put that down, you're gonna ruin that book." He showed me how to cook up some wheat paste right there on the spot - said the PVA creates a stiff spine that cracks over decades while wheat paste lets the paper breathe. I always thought modern glue was better but he pointed out how the original binding was still holding together after 150 years with just flour and water. Anyone else run into those old timers who make you question everything you learned?

3 comments

3 Comments

colethomas5d ago

Yeah wheat paste is legit. I tried it on a old family bible once. Stuff dried way softer than PVA. Felt more natural in my hands.

ward.anna5d ago

Ruining" a book seems like a stretch for using PVA.

jason_stone594d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly @ward.anna knows what's up - "ruined" is a bit dramatic for some glue. Ngl though colethomas using wheat paste on a family bible is bold, hope nobody was planning on reading that thing again.