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That master bookbinder in Seattle told me I was wasting time with PVA glue
I went to a workshop at the Seattle Book Arts Center last fall, and the instructor, a guy who's been binding for 40 years, watched me use PVA on a text block. He said I was making my books too stiff and hard to open flat. He had me switch to a wheat paste mix for that project, and I have to admit, the finished book felt way more natural in the hand. Anyone else find wheat paste works better for certain bindings than PVA?
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richard_wells5922h ago
Does the wheat paste hold up as well over a few years though?
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bell.taylor23h ago
That instructor was spot on about wheat paste for text blocks - PVA makes everything fight you when you try to open the book flat. The difference is HUGE once you feel a properly hinged book that actually relaxes open instead of snapping shut.
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