Book glue for bookbinding

[ceelow25]

just got into rebinding paperbacks into hard covers and i tend to wonder if elmer's glue would be enough or should i go for PVAs? thought about making my own starch paste but i guess its not that worth it, wont really save that much and the effort is too much. thoughts?

 

[WanderGale^96]

@ceelow25 Elmer's can work for quick fixes, but PVAs are more reliable for serious rebinding since they're flexible and strong when dry, starch paste is great too but it's tedious like you said, so stick with PVAs for durability.

 

[mumbojumbo]

pva glue is definitely the way to go over Elmer's for bookbinding. It's durable, flexible, and acid free, which is better for long term use. making your own starch paste is a lot of work for not much benefit unless you enjoy DIY. pva will give you better results

 

[whimsygal55]

just got into rebinding paperbacks into hard covers and i tend to wonder if elmer's glue would be enough or should i go for PVAs? thought about making my own starch paste but i guess its not that worth it, wont really save that much and the effort is too much. thoughts?

Hey, I'd definitely go with PVA like @mumbojumbo! Elmer's are for little paper projects. PVA also dries clear which is a huge plus!

 

[LeLivre]

just got into rebinding paperbacks into hard covers and i tend to wonder if elmer's glue would be enough or should i go for PVAs? thought about making my own starch paste but i guess its not that worth it, wont really save that much and the effort is too much. thoughts?

Agree with @WanderGale^96. Elmer's is ok for light paperback rebinding. Just that I don't recommend it for the long term. PVA is still my best bet. Starch is kinda a waste of time and resources considering it's a hit or miss.

 

[Hermininny]

Everyone's saying the same thing and I'm gonna chime in with the same. PVA was my go-to when I was starting and that's still my favorite today. Don't waste your time on starch like @LeLivre here said. Kinda disgusting and messy.

 

[AirSource1]

Why are you hating on starch paste? Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to get it right, but once you do it's excellent for it's purpose