Old timer told me to stop using PVA for leather hinges

Met a guy at the bindery supply shop in Cleveland last spring. He was in his 70s, been binding since the 60s. He saw me buying PVA and said straight up "you're gonna regret that on leather." I brushed him off thinking he was stuck in his ways. Fast forward 8 months and two of my leather hinge repairs have completely failed. The PVA just didn't hold up to the stress of opening and closing. I had to redo both jobs with proper animal glue. That old guy knew exactly what he was talking about. Anyone else run into old school advice that turned out to be better than modern methods?

2 comments

2 Comments

rileyl678d ago

Used to swear by PVA for everything including leather hinges. Figured animal glue was just old school stubbornness. Then I had a leather spine piece on a family Bible start peeling away after maybe six months. The PVA had dried out and cracked where the leather flexed. Switched to fish glue for that job and it's been solid for two years now. Sometimes the old timers learned things the hard way so we don't have to. Glad you caught it before more of your work failed.

mark498d ago

Honestly though, is it really that serious? I've used PVA on leather for years and never had anything peel off on me. Maybe it's more about how you prep the surface or the specific glue brand you use.