Serious question, why does glue seep through thin paper every time I bind?

3 comments

3 Comments

PVA glue is honestly the main culprit here. It's water based so it gets pulled into the paper fibers really easily, almost like a sponge. That capillary action happens super fast with thin paper because there's just less material to absorb it. You might have better luck with a thicker paper weight, like maybe 32 lb instead of 20 lb. Switching to a glue like methyl cellulose, which dries clearer and is less wet, can sometimes help a lot too. The trick is using a super thin, even layer and letting it get tacky for a minute before you press the pages together.

wesleyburns21d ago

Yeah, that tacky wait time makes all the difference, learned that the hard way too.

iris_mason8828d ago

Ugh, that wavy paper thing is the worst. Been there so many times trying to fix old paperback spines. What you said about the glue getting tacky first is totally key, it's a game changer once you get the timing right. Thicker paper does help, but sometimes you just have to work with what you've got, you know? It's such a balancing act between using enough glue to stick but not so much it ruins everything.