Found a cheap way to fix loose hinges on old books without replacing them

I was about to trash a 1940s Reader's Digest collection because the hinges were all cracked and floppy. Tried the usual PVA glue trick and it just peeled right off after a week. Then I remembered a tip I saw on a YouTube video from a guy in Portland - he used Japanese tissue and wheat paste instead. It took about 3 days to dry fully but those hinges are solid now. Has anyone else had better luck with tissue and paste over modern glue?

2 comments

2 Comments

eric_ramirez671mo ago

Portland guy strikes again with the weird artsy fix that actually works. Guess I owe my granddad's old book collection a apology for almost tossing it.

jakewhite1mo ago

Dropped my aunt's old recipe box off at Goodwill last year and found out later it had her handwritten notes in the margins. Still kicking myself about it.