A lot of art or craft projects call for PVA glue... I don't know how many times I thought this was some sort of hard-to-get, special glue. I figured if I didn't have it, I'd better just forget about the project until I could get my hands of some of this stuff.
Well, it turns out it's actually very much like the most common white glue around. Gee, that glue we used in school, remember Elmer's Glue? It looks pretty much the same. And it's not hard to find at all.
Of course there are differences between these glues! The school white glue, like Elmer's, contains some PVA but it's not the same. The formula is different.
So, if you're just doing crafty projects then regular white glue will do. However, if you need your artwork to last a lifetime then you'll need the PVA glue.
PVA glue is used when you need archival quality. Meaning the glue will not yellow, it won't break down and will not affect the PH of papers, paints and other mediums that come in contact with it. In that way it will last for many decades.
This is important for artists who sell their work. As selling artists it's our responsibility to ensure we use products that will stand the test of time.
PVA stands for Polyvinyl acetates. That's pretty much all I know about the chemistry of this glue.
Here's why it's recommended in all sorts of projects:
~ It's only toxic if you ingest it. So don't eat it.
~ It doesn't emit any stinky or harmful fumes.
~ And you can handle it safely without gloves.
~ It's pretty much acid-free which makes it ideal for archival work...In other words, it has a neutral PH.
~ It's pretty flexible.
~ It dries clear.
~ You can use it for paper, board, collage work, papier mache, book binding, crafts, wood, vinyl and as mentioned, archival work. It's even used in leatherwork!
This glue is really somethin'!
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