Watch out for that new 'archival' glue they sell at the craft chain

I had a project where I needed to reback a 1900s poetry book... the label said it dried clear and flexible. It took a full 48 hours to set, not the 4 hours it said on the tube. I had to keep the book in a press for over a week before I could even think about trimming. Has anyone else had glue dry times go totally wrong on them?

3 comments

3 Comments

anna9832mo ago

Always do a test strip first (learned that the hard way).

chen.fiona1mo ago

Peel that test strip off and admit you're at the mercy of the glue gods haha. I've got a whole graveyard of test strips that look fine at first then curl up like crispy bacon after a day. Better to cry over a small piece than a whole book though.

kareng272mo agoMost Upvoted

Ugh, that's the worst. I had a batch of that stuff turn tacky and never fully cure on some endpapers. The temperature in your workspace messes with dry times way more than the labels admit. My rule now is to double whatever time it says, and keep it weighted down in a press for at least three days, no peeking. That craft store glue is just not reliable for book work.