Just realized I've been using the wrong glue for my endpapers

I was watching a video from a binder in Portland and she said she only uses wheat paste for her cloth endpapers. I've been using PVA for everything, even thin paper ones, and sometimes they get too stiff. She explained that wheat paste stays flexible as it ages, which is key for books that get opened a lot. I mixed up a small batch last night and tried it on a test journal. The difference in how the hinge feels is already noticeable. Has anyone else made this switch and noticed their books lasting longer?

3 comments

3 Comments

brian_bell1mo ago

My first attempt at wheat paste turned into a weird, lumpy pancake batter. I'm clearly better at breaking books than making the glue for them.

tyler5061mo ago

Yeah my first batch was like wallpaper paste mixed with oatmeal. Had to throw the whole pot out. At least you're good at the book part, I'd be left with just a pile of lumpy glue.

patricia_wright5d ago

Honestly that lumpy stage is the worst, feels like you're just stirring a pot of regrets. Tbh the trick is to whisk like crazy while you slowly add the dry mix to cold water, never the other way around. Ngl Brian_Bell has a point about it turning into pancake batter, that happens when the water's too hot at the start. You gotta keep it on low heat and just keep stirring until it clears up. Takes forever but it beats starting over with a new batch.