Tried a new PVA glue versus my usual wheat paste for spine lining

I used Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive on a repair job last week, and it set up way too fast for me to get the mull positioned right. Went back to my homemade wheat paste for the next one and had a full 5 minutes of working time to smooth everything out perfectly. Anyone have a specific PVA brand that gives you a longer open time without being too thin?

4 comments

4 Comments

cooper.drew4mo ago

That stuff always dries before I can blink.

adams.uma4mo ago

Ever blink slower than @cooper.drew?

paulw534mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, how fast does a blink need to be... seems like making a big deal out of nothing. If it dries, just put another drop in.

rileygarcia1mo ago

Paul, you're missing the point entirely (and I mean that in the nicest way possible). The issue isn't about adding more glue, it's about the open time being so short that you can't adjust your materials without the whole thing turning into a bumpy mess. Like, have you ever tried to reposition a mull that's already halfway bonded? It's a nightmare, you'll end up with wrinkles or bubbles that show through the spine. So for you, adams.uma, what brand of PVA were you using that gave you a reasonable work time? I've had decent luck with the methyl cellulose mix slowing things down, but straight PVA always feels like a race against the clock.