PVA vs paste, my 15 year habit just got broken by accident

I've been using PVA for all my case bindings since I started binding in Chicago back in 2009. Last week I ran out mid-project, so I grabbed some wheat paste from my buddy's shop. I had to rush a rebind job for a local library, and honestly the paste gave me way more working time. The spine rounded nicer, and the cover boards didn't warp as much overnight. I'm not saying I'm switching entirely, but for big runs it seems to handle humidity way better. Has anyone else had better luck with paste over PVA for certain steps, or is it just me?

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1 Comment

the_terry1d agoTop Commenter

Paste has been around longer than any of us, so it's not some new trick. But one rushed job in humid weather doesn't really prove much. Humidity changes week to week, and your buddy's paste mix might just be thicker or thinner than what you're used to. Give it a few months of regular use before you start rewriting your whole process.