I finally learned the hard way to stop buying cheap glue

Wasted like $12 on a bottle of PVA from a craft store clearance bin and it made my first rebind project fall apart after a week. Pages just slid right out of the spine on a copy of Dune I was fixing up. Anyone else swear by a specific brand so I don't mess up another book?

3 comments

3 Comments

henderson.oscar23d ago

Oh man, I feel your pain. I've definitely been there with craft store glue - that stuff is pure garbage for bookbinding.

vera_palmer22d ago

Back in my first year of trying to bind my own notebooks, I thought I could save a few bucks and just use the cheap white glue from the dollar store. Big mistake. That stuff turned my pages into a crinkly mess and the spine cracked open after about two weeks. It's kinda funny looking back, but at the time I was so frustrated I almost gave up on the whole hobby. So yeah, @henderson.oscar, you're absolutely right about craft store glue being a total waste. Had to learn the hard way that spending a little more on proper PVA makes all the difference in the world, even if it stings the wallet at first.

juliashah11d ago

Those pages slid right out of the spine on a copy of Dune" sounds like the book staged a mutiny against you for using cheap glue. I bet Paul Atreides would have some choice words about that kind of shortcut. Just glad your next attempt won't be a total sandworm of a disaster.