I finally picked a new glue for my leather covers

It was between a traditional wheat paste and a modern PVA. I went with the PVA for a rush job on a custom journal, and it dried way too stiff. Anyone have a flexible PVA brand they actually like?

4 comments

4 Comments

wilson.olivia17d ago

I read that adding a bit of glycerin to the PVA helps keep it flexible.

lucasw8417d ago

That cardboard feel is the worst.

river_dixon17d ago

Ugh, that's the worst. I've had the same problem with PVA making things feel like cardboard. What's the actual leather you're using, like is it super thin or more of a thick veg tan?

the_brian17d ago

Actually, I've had the opposite happen... PVA made a thin garment leather I used way too floppy, like a wet rag. It needs some body to hold shape. That cardboard feel might mean you're not thinning it enough or you're putting it on too thick. I did a bag with thick veg tan and a 50/50 water/PVA mix, and it came out perfect... kept it soft but gave it some structure. Maybe the problem is the mix, not the glue itself.