Watching an old binder in Prague fix a torn map with wheat paste... it changed my whole glue game.

3 comments

3 Comments

Wonder if that wheat paste recipe is the same one they used for old book bindings. Makes you question what other "outdated" crafts have better materials than what we buy now. The real glue game might just be going backwards.

kim.sandra3mo ago

Actually have to disagree a bit with @julia286 on this one! Modern bookbinding glues are made to last way longer without getting brittle or attracting bugs, which old wheat paste could do. Sometimes the old ways are charming, but they weren't always better for keeping things together for centuries.

taylorcarr1mo ago

Wait, wait, hold on. People ACTUALLY still use wheat paste for book bindings and maps and stuff? I thought that was like... some ancient Roman thing that would just turn into a science experiment after a month. I can't believe there are old timers in Prague who still mix it by hand and trust it with something that old. Honestly, that's kind of wild but also super impressive.