Just tried wheat paste over PVA for a cloth spine repair

I always used PVA for cloth rebacks but an older binder at a workshop last weekend showed me wheat paste instead. It dried stiffer and held the frayed edges way flatter without that plastic shine. Has anyone else switched away from PVA for certain repairs?

2 comments

2 Comments

mila_craig41mo ago

I swapped to wheat paste for cloth repairs about a year back. Stops that plastic look cold. PVA always felt too glossy on old book cloth. Wheat paste gives you a cleaner edge too, doesn't peel up after a few years. I keep both around though, PVA still wins for paper repairs that need real grab.

luna_green1mo ago

Wait, are you saying wheat paste doesn't peel up after years? I've been fighting with peeling PVA on old book cloth for ages and just assumed that was how it goes. I thought wheat paste was way more fussy and fragile, not something that holds up long-term. Genuinely might try it now, I've got a couple of cloth rebinds that have that cheap plastic shine to them that I hate.