Threw out my PVA glue after 10 years of bookbinding - tried wheat paste and it surprised me

I know most folks here swear by PVA for everything, but I switched to wheat paste on a whim last month when I ran out of glue at 2 AM. Used it on a leather binding for a 300-page journal and the spine actually flexes way better than my PVA jobs ever did. Has anyone else had good luck with wheat paste for something besides paper repairs?

2 comments

2 Comments

fox.jesse1mo ago

@paul233 might be onto something with the mold warning. My buddy Tom tried wheat paste on a sketchbook cover last summer and left it in his damp garage. After three weeks the whole thing smelled like a wet basement and had furry green patches on the spine. He had to trash the whole thing. The flex was great though, at least for the first month before the mold took over. I'd say keep a close eye on humidity if you're going to keep using it.

paul2331mo ago

Guess you finally found out PVA isn't the holy grail of bindings after all. Wheat paste probably flexes better because it's literally just flour and water, not industrial grade plastic. Watch out though, mold might start growing on that leather before you finish the journal.