Repairing a damaged slipcase

I recently bought a book with a slipcase in much poorer condition than I expected. The book is fine, but the two base halves of the case seem to have separated, so that it nearly falls into two pieces whenever I try to take the book out. Can someone recommend me an adhesive that will let me reattach the pieces? Something not too expensive that won't damage the book when I put it back inside the case?

I'm mainly concerned with readability and sturdiness. It's not a rare or expensive book so I'm not too concerned with value, but I wouldn't want to discolor the pages, for instance, and I also don't want to just discard an original slipcase. I just want the case to continue protecting the book.

Sounds like you need PVA (polyvinyl acetate), which should be available at any decent art supply store. Note that this is not the same as Elmer's Glue, which has additives that make it acidic, and therefore not good for books!

Yes, I know better than to use regular Elmer's glue without consulting someone who knows their stuff, but I've also never done book repair before and didn't know what to use instead. I looked up some PVA adhesives and they do sound like exactly what I need. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

You're welcome! I just mentioned Elmer's because there are folks who think that all "white glue" is the same.

>4 lilithcat: And Elmer's is actually a PVA glue although they put in some additives that make it acidic and thus unusable for this type of work. I've successfully repaired a number slipcases with PVA glue (I use "Jade" from Talas).

I just received Nox which is an unbound accordian book that comes in a solander box. I'm not sure if any of those are the correct terms. Since it's unbound the box is critical. The bottom edge of the box has broken away. Looks like glue and paper was all that was holding it in the first place. Any suggestions on a way to stabilize without being too obvious? It's grey in color.

>6 varielle: http://www.carrmclean.com/CategoryGroupBrowser.aspx?CategoryID=139&GroupNo=1...
Might this do? It would have to go inside the box, I guess. I haven't tried it myself.

That might be perfect! Thank you.

Piggybacking on this old thread rather than starting a new one. For severely split slipcases (completely separated along one or more edges), is a PVA glue repair usually sufficient or would using a book repair tape inside the slipcase be recommended as well? Thanks!

Edited to add that I’m specifically repairing slipcases for several multi-volume sets so I think they will be exposed to more pressure than a typical one-volume slipcase.

>9 ChampagneSVP:

I'd consider doing both. It can't hurt to have some extra support.

>9 ChampagneSVP: I've reglued split seams on slipcases multiple times. PVA glue is pretty strong. I've never taped the inside.

>10 lilithcat: the con that I could think of would be possibly more friction/rubbing on the books’ boards as they slide along the cloth tape vs along paper during removal.

>11 kdweber: thanks. May try PVA glue alone first. I suppose I can always do a second repair later if it doesn’t hold up.

>13 ChampagneSVP: It will hold. I use PVA (Jade 403) not only for repairs, but in bookbinding as well. I glue the spine with it rather than using the animal glue of old. Jade is strong, flexible and forms a lasting bond.

Glues are a fascinating subject and not many are recommendable for book repairs if the book is of any value I find.
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Two glues I can recommend, namely; Methyl Cellulose (MC) powder and EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) liquid glue (that looks very similar to PVA ~ poly vinyl acetate)... and for a variety of reasons I will not go into too much detail here about them, otherwise I would be writing an eBook....
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I have a scattering of my books from the 1970s still (and many of the old glues have failed), and many I have re-glued the spines of (ie, pulled the entire book apart page by page, and re-built it).

The repairs are mostly done in a small book press with EVA white glue (ethyl vinyl acetate), and at the same time I do an Oxford Spine (as it makes for a great job and they feel wonderful to read afterwards as the book can open completely and safely with no spine damage at all).
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Methyl Cellulose (MC) powder mixed with water is also an excellent glue ( and has thousands of other uses, as a filler in yoghurt, as the facial stuff in porn movies, as the sealing-lacquer on croissants, and as a bulking agent in weight-loss foods, and as a glue in nut health bars, it is amazing 'stuff'), and, for repairing old book spines it is great for softening the old glue to clean up spines ready to be re-glued with the same MC (or with EVA Glue)....
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Also EVA glue is an archival glue that Art framing stores use a lot of and I buy from them. I use it as I do not have to mix it like I do with MC...
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--->########PLEASE NOTE; that EVA is also the basis for HOT MELT Glue which, I would say, is NOT good to use for anything to do with book repairs...#######