glue vs tape for endpapers, I switched after a soggy disaster

I used to rely on double-sided tape for quick repairs but a humid week in Atlanta made everything peel, so I tried PVA and wheat paste on a test run. The paste gave me a few extra working minutes before it stuck, but PVA dries way flatter for me. Anyone else have a strong preference for one over the other, or a trick to keep the paste from warping thin paper?

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lee.lucas2mo ago

My neighbor Doug ruined a whole cookbook binding with tape back in 2017, the glue melted in his truck and stained every page like a weird coffee accident. Wheat paste reminds me of my grandma's wallpaper hanging days, she always said to let it breathe before pressing, so now I mix a tiny drop of glycerin in when I'm doing thin paper. It gives me that extra stretch without the warp, plus it smells less like a craft store and more like a kitchen project, which I honestly find calming. PVA still wins for any book I plan to actually read again though, tape is fine for a sticky note emergency but not for something with feelings.

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