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?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_wood511mo 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.

jennifer9651mo 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.

hayes.jake1mo ago

Most people don't handle their books hard enough for stitching to matter. The real test isn't six weeks of daily handling, it's fifty years of sitting on a shelf. PVA glue that's made for books stays flexible way longer than cotton thread can. I've seen stitching snap clean through after a few decades because the paper gets brittle and the thread just cuts it like a knife. A good glue job spreads the stress across the whole spine instead of poking holes in the paper. Plus if your glued spine does crack, it's a five minute fix with a new layer.