Rant: Why does everyone rush to use PVA for everything?

I stopped by the bindery at the University of Chicago library last month and watched them use wheat paste on a 200-year-old ledger. The head conservator said PVA is too brittle for certain papers and will crack after 50 years. Am I wrong for thinking we should slow down and match the glue to the job instead of grabbing the fastest option?

3 comments

3 Comments

karen_carter2d ago

Wait, the head conservator said PVA is actually brittle over time? I had no idea it would crack after 50 years. I always thought it was the gold standard for book repair because it dries clear and stays flexible. That changes everything about the stack of old family Bibles I was planning to fix this winter.

miles_robinson202d ago

yeah totally, I watched a guy try to fix an old book with straight PVA and it turned into a stiff board that cracked when you opened it. wheat paste or even just a good starch paste makes way more sense for the old stuff.

dylan4632d ago

The "turned into a stiff board" thing is real, I used to swear by PVA for everything but that changed my mind.