PVA glue failed on a 400 page rebind in Bellingham and I had to cut the whole text block apart
Was finishing a full leather rebind of a 400 page dictionary for a guy in Bellingham and the PVA let go along the spine right after I pressed it. I think my glue pot was too cold, around 60 degrees in my shop that night, so the bond never set right. Had to slice the whole block apart and start the spine over, which ate my whole weekend. Anyone else run into cold PVA letting go like that, and do you warm your glue or just skip it when the shop gets chilly?
Man, I used to be in the camp that said just slather on more glue and clamp it tighter, never had a problem, so why fuss. Then I did a big Bible rebind in a cold garage one January and watched the whole spine peel off in a sheet two days later, that was my wake up call. Now I keep a cheap heat mat under the glue pot and won't touch a spine unless the PVA is at least 70 degrees, and I warm the block too if I can. Cold glue will fool you because it still looks wet and grabs fine at first, then it lets go right when the book gets opened.