Can we talk about how book cloth changed over the last 10 years?

I was using up some old stock from 2013 the other day and man, the difference is wild. That stuff had a much tighter weave and almost no stretch, it was a pain to line up but it cut so clean. The newer stuff I bought from a shop in Portland feels way softer and has this plastic-y backing that just peels off when I try to trim it. Anybody else notice their newer adhesives don't hold as well on these new cloths either?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavinb9725d ago

Did a buddy of mine try some of that newer cloth for a restoration project last month? He said the glue just sort of let go after a week and the whole spine flopped open like a dead fish. The old stuff he had from like 2012 cut real straight and stayed put but this new batch from a shop in Seattle was basically useless for anything but scrap paper.

lindal1325d ago

Huh, did your buddy say where in Seattle he got it? I've had the same problem with newer cloth from a couple places. It's like they changed the backing or something. The glue just won't bond right no matter what adhesive you use. It's a real shame because the older stuff worked like a charm.

harper_foster25d ago

Oh man, I totally see it differently. I actually prefer the newer book cloth because it's way easier to work with on curved spines and tight corners. That old stiff stuff from 2013 was like wrestling with cardboard, it would crack if you breathed on it wrong. The newer stuff might feel plasticky but it bends without fighting you and that means less frustration when you're trying to get a clean wrap on a rounded back. Also, the peel-off backing makes trimming way faster once you get the hang of it, you just score and snap instead of fighting with frayed edges. Have you tried a different adhesive like a PVA blend that's made for modern coated fabrics?