Glue vs. stitching for book spines - which one actually holds up longer?

I got into a debate with a guy at the bindery last month about using PVA glue versus traditional stitching on spines. He swore that a good layer of glue is just as strong as stitching if you let it cure right. So I tested it on two identical repair jobs on some 1960s novels from a library sale. One I glued, one I stitched with a tight 3-hole method. After 6 weeks of daily handling, the glued one started to crack at the hinge. The stitched one is still solid as a rock. But I know some folks here swear by glue for speed and cost. Has anyone else seen glue fail over time, or did I just use the wrong kind?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_wood5112d ago

Did you use the right PVA for bookbinding or just regular woodworking glue? Because the cheap stuff gets brittle fast but archival PVA can outlast stitching if applied right.

jennifer96513d ago

Wait is this really that deep though? Like unless you're planning to hand these books down to your grandkids I feel like glue is fine for most people.