A workshop in Asheville made me rethink my whole glue-up process

I was at a bookbinding workshop in Asheville last fall, and the instructor had us mix our own wheat paste from scratch (something I'd always avoided). She showed us how to test the stringiness by pulling it with a brush, a trick I'd never seen. I've been using pre-made stuff for years, but this homemade batch gave me way more control over the spine. Has anyone else switched to making their own paste and noticed a difference with certain papers?

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3 Comments

evanh276mo ago

Oh man, that's awesome. I tried making my own paste once and it was a total game changer for working with thicker handmade papers. The store bought stuff just doesn't get the same tack without being too wet. It's a bit messier for sure, but being able to tweak the thickness makes a huge difference.

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riley_king166mo ago

What's your go-to recipe for it?

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the_willow6mo ago

The real benefit for me was learning how the paste ages. My homemade stuff seems to stay flexible longer in humid weather, so my older books don't crack at the hinge. That control over ingredients matters more than I expected.

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