Re: [BKARTS] reversible, archival glues

["Peter D. Verheyen" <verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Everything degrades over time, even us. How quickly things degrade 
and what the net effect is varies greatly though. In the pantheon of 
adhesives paste and gelatin are among the best and most stable and effective.

> But doesn't gelatin degrade over time, too?

I really don't find any adhesives terribly messy, except perhaps that 
"tube" of liquid nails that exploded on me (not book related). 
Ultimately, it really just comes down to facility in working with 
adhesives, neatness, ...

Bugs, they can be attracted to certain adhesives. They also like the 
starches in paper and book cloth. On the other hand, their presence 
is also a factor of environment. Keep things so they don't like 
coming around and they largely won't. Of course, if you live in the 
tropics you've got other issues as well. I don't recommend adding 
thymol to anything. As for acidity, if you're really concerned you 
could buffer the paste. Ultimately though, I think sound technique 
and structure are going to contribute more to the well-being of the 
item than if the pH of the paste is 6.5 or 7.5.

Bottom line, paste and gelatin are among the best and most stable and 
effective.  As with all things, it comes down to knowing how to make 
and use them.

p.



__________________________________

Peter D. Verheyen
Bookbinder & Conservator, PA - AIC
<verheyen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
The Book Arts Web & Book_Arts-L Listserv
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