PVA vs wheat paste for spines, my 2 month switch test

I got sick of spines cracking on my practice journals so I started testing PVA only on one set and wheat paste only on another, same paper and cover board. After about 60 days, the wheat paste copies rounded way nicer and held their shape better, but the PVA ones opened flatter for reading. I kept a log of hinge failures and the PVA had zero while the wheat paste had 2 that needed glue touch ups. My buddy says I'm overthinking it and should just use PVA for everything, but I like the natural feel of wheat paste for smaller books. Anyone else run a side by side like this, or do you pick based on the project size instead? What's your gut call when both bindings feel good at the start?

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henry_knight11d ago

Did your buddy also volunteer to fix those 2 wheat paste hinges when they finally give out? Look, you're basically choosing between a book that reads flat and one that ages like a sourdough loaf, so just pick the one that matches your patience level.