Unpopular opinion: I was wrong about using PVA for everything

For the 4 years I've been binding books I used PVA glue on everything. Spines, endpapers, even tipping in pages. Thought it was the best since it dries clear and holds strong. Then last month I was finishing a leather-bound journal for a client and the spine just wouldnt flex right. It felt stiff and wrong. My mentor who's been doing this for 30 years stopped by my shop and asked why I was using PVA on a flexible leather spine. He said I needed wheat paste for that type of binding. I tried it on a test piece and the difference was night and day. The leather moved with the book instead of fighting it. Now I gotta figure out which projects need which glue. Any of you guys use both depending on the job?

3 comments

3 Comments

gibson.avery7d ago

The spine just wouldnt flex right" is exactly what happened to me too, never thought about it til now lol.

kimr747d ago

Oh wow, I totally thought it was just me being clumsy, but that actually makes so much sense now.

wilson.joseph7d agoTop Commenter

@kimr74 once you start noticing design flaws you see them everywhere, like doors you pull when they should push.