Pro tip: A binder told me to stop using so much glue on spines

I used to lay down a thick layer of PVA on every spine, thinking more glue meant a stronger book. At a workshop in Portland last month, a guy named Mike watched me for two minutes and said, 'You're making it harder on yourself, not better.' He showed me to use a thin, even coat and let it tack up for 30 seconds before closing. My last three case bindings came out way flatter with no warping. Anyone else have a simple habit change that fixed a big issue?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_robert1d ago

Nah I'm gonna push back on this one. I layer it on thick and never had problems with warping, my books are built like tanks. Sometimes this "less is more" stuff is just gatekeeping from workshop know-it-alls.

veraj531d ago

Saw the same thing with my first few books @the_robert. I used to pile on the glue because I thought it meant a stronger spine. Turns out I was just making the paper swell unevenly and causing the covers to cup over time. Once I switched to a thinner, even coat and let it dry properly, everything lay flat. It’s not about being stingy with glue, it’s about how you apply it. You can still build a tank without drowning it in paste.