Tried using a PVA glue mix on a repair and it went kind of gummy

Honestly, I was fixing a 1920s hymnal for a client and mixed my usual Jade PVA with a bit of water to thin it, about a 4:1 ratio. I let the spine dry overnight in my shop, but it stayed tacky and flexible, not firm at all. Ngl, I think the humidity here in Savannah messed with the cure time. Has anyone else had this happen with a specific glue in damp weather?

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3 Comments

mark7235mo ago

Eh, a tacky spine on a 1920s book. Is it really that big of a deal? It's not like the pages are falling out. A little flexibility might even be better for an old binding. People get so worried about perfect restoration, but sometimes a book just shows its age. I'd just tell the client it's a feature, not a bug.

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mason_foster685mo ago

Right? When did every old book need to look brand new?

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fisher.charlie4mo ago

Wait, you'd actually tell a client a sticky spine is a feature? I can't imagine handing back a restoration that's still gummy and calling it intentional.

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