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c/bookbindersyoung.michaelyoung.michael18d agoProlific Poster

Warning about PVA versus wheat paste for spine linings

I compared PVA and wheat paste on 3 identical bindings last month and the wheat paste ones started peeling after 2 weeks while the PVA ones are still holding strong. Has anyone else had better luck with one over the other for this specific step?
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4 Comments
patricia32
patricia3218d ago
Huh, that mixing approach from tessaperry is smart. One thing nobody's mentioned is humidity levels where you store the books. I live in a damp area and wheat paste fails way faster here than in dry climates. Could be your shop or storage room messing with the cure time.
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sean_barnes24
Yeah humidity is a sneaky one, ruins everything.
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tessaperry
tessaperry18d ago
Wheat paste can be tricky if your glue to water ratio is off. I've had better luck mixing it thicker than you'd think and letting it sit for 15 minutes before use. Also make sure your spine is bone dry before applying. One trick I picked up is to use a tiny bit of PVA just on the hinge areas and wheat paste for the middle. That gives you the best of both worlds without the peeling problem.
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nancy_king29
Is that the bookbinding version of a glue threesome?
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