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I think we're all too precious about using PVA glue for everything, my repair on a 1900s ledger fell apart after six months
Used a standard pH-neutral PVA on a hinge tear for a client's old farm ledger. It was a clean break, I followed all the usual steps. The repair looked perfect. Client just brought it back and the hinge has failed completely, the glue line is brittle and cracked. Everyone says PVA is the safe choice, but for something that old and dry, maybe it's not flexible enough long term? I'm looking at wheat starch paste now, even though it's a pain. Has anyone else had a modern glue fail on really old, acidic paper?
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morgan5124mo ago
Joseph300, did the map repair fail in a similar timeframe - about six months? I'm wondering if the brittleness shows up faster on certain paper types or if it's more of a slow build over years.
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joseph3006mo ago
Yeah, PVA can get weirdly brittle on that old, dry paper. Had a similar thing happen with a 1912 map, the glue just turned to dust. Wheat starch is a pain to mix, but it stays flexible.
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elizabeth_jackson6mo ago
Seems like overkill for most stuff though, like does it really matter for a book that just sits on a shelf?
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