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Question about using wheat paste versus PVA for spine lining
I just finished two copies of the same book, a collection of local poetry. For the first, I used a modern PVA glue for the spine lining, and for the second, I mixed up a batch of traditional wheat paste. The difference was clear after a week. The PVA copy has a stiffer, less flexible spine, while the wheat paste one opens beautifully and feels more supple. It seems like the older method actually gives a better result for this kind of text block. Has anyone else found this, or am I just mixing my PVA wrong?
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susanb343mo ago
Man, it's wild how much the old ways still win sometimes! I'm with you on wheat paste for spine lining. It's like bread dough versus store-bought sandwich bread - one's got life in it, the other's just kinda there. I've noticed that pattern all over, like how my grandpa's cast iron skillet cooks way better than my fancy nonstick pans. And @dakotab93 is right about PVA getting brittle, I've seen old PVA-bound books crack at the hinges while wheat paste ones from the 1800s still flex. How long did you let your wheat paste sit before using it?
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