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My uncle told me to use PVA glue straight from the bottle for a repair, and I should have known better
He's not a bookbinder, just a guy who fixes stuff around the house. I had a client's 1920s poetry book with a loose spine, and he said 'just slap some of that white glue in there, it'll hold forever.' I was in a rush, so I did. Big mistake. After it dried, the spine was way too stiff and the glue actually seeped through the cloth a little, leaving a shiny spot. I had to carefully remove it all, which took hours with a spatula and a damp sponge. Now I always thin my PVA with a bit of water for spine work, no matter what. Has anyone else had a 'helpful' tip from a non-binder go totally wrong on a project?
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schmidt.grant3mo ago
Free advice from non-experts is always a gamble, isn't it? You end up learning the hard way why pros do things a certain way. At least that book got a second chance.
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evan15126d ago
Ha, that book's probably worth more now with the glue than without it!
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