Paste may be used with less danger of injury to the book than glue, and
is the only mending medium which should be used on books that are to be
rebound. Under no condition should mucilage be used on any book which is
to be rebound. Some librarians persist in doing this and then expect the
binder to do good work. Glue should be used only by experienced menders.
USE. Paste for small surfaces is more evenly spread with the finger,
and there is less waste than with a brush. Spread thinly, using
only enough paste to make paper stick securely.
Thick paste spreads more smoothly than thin and is not taken up
quickly by the paper. This is an important point, for if the paper
stretches or expands the work can not be done in a satisfactory
way.
Provide cheese cloth cut in small pieces for use in rubbing down
the pasted parts, and for keeping the fingers clean, etc. These
should be used only a few times.
Cleanliness and neatness are absolutely essential to good mending.
There are various powdered pastes on the market used by book-binders,
bill-posters, paper-hangers and others. Spon Tem or Steko, manufactured
by Clark Paper & Twine Co., Rochester, N. Y., and Rex Dry Paste, Geneva,
N. Y., are both excellent in adhesive qualities and easily prepared,
mixing with either hot or cold water and without cooking.
An excellent mixed paste is made by the Commercial Paste Co., Columbus,
Ohio, called Gleich's "Gluey" Paste. This, as its name implies, has some
glue mixed with it and is quick drying and strongly adhesive. Arabol
Book Glue, Arabol Mnfg. Co., 100 William St., N. Y. City, is highly
recommended. Purchase in large or small quantities. The various pastes
used in the school "hand work" are good, and come under the general name
of school pastes.
RECIPE FOR FLOUR PASTE. Mix a thin batter of flour and water, cook
and as it thickens add hot water until right consistency and until
thoroughly cooked. It will be well cooked when all milky appearance of
the flour and water has disappeared and when bubbles of air begin to
explode through the mixture. After taking from the fire a preservative
may be added if desired, such as a half teaspoonful of oil of
wintergreen to a pint of paste.
At times it is desirable to do some simple pasting, such as tipping in a
single leaf or label, and for such work any good library paste is a
great convenience.