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That library's book repair station made me question my whole method
I was at the downtown branch in Portland last Tuesday, killing time before a meeting, and they have this glass case showing their conservation tools. Old nipping press, a bone folder worn smooth on one edge, jars of wheat paste like my grandmother used for wallpaper. It got me thinking about how I bind everything with PVA and jigged book presses, and how we act like that's the only real way. But there's something to be said for the old school approach, especially for leather and vellum where PVA can just pull apart over time. The librarian told me they still hand-sew every signature on linen cord, and their repairs from 1987 are still holding. Meanwhile, I have a 2009 project that's already cracking along the hinge because I cut corners on the mull. So which side are you on, modern synthetics or traditional paste and thread, and has anyone else seen a repair station that made you question your own choices?
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leo_black761mo ago
Have you tested that old wheat paste on any modern book cloth, or just trusted what the librarian told you?
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