Making the Perfect Wheat Starch Paste

Wheat Starch Paste is one of the core adhesives used in book and paper conservation. High quality wheat starch paste, used by most conservation labs, comes in a powdered form that is mixed with water and then cooked.
The Preservation Lab uses Zen Shofu wheat starch paste from Talas. Getting the right consistency without any lumps is harder that you would think, that's why we took the opportunity to film the process of Veronica Sorcher, a previous Conservation Tech in the Lab and general adhesive making master, whipping up a batch. Followed by our Sr. Conservation Tech, Catarina Figueirinhas, straining the paste and demonstrating a common use for wheat starch paste in treatment. Wheat starch paste is the ideal adhesive more almost all paper mends as it is water-soluble, meaning it is very reversible. Paste is also often used when lining spines (strained, thick) and adhering original bookcloth to cover boards.

[@nameless6252]

I have a newfound respect for you preservationists!

[@ThePreservationLab]

Thank you, we love hearing that!

[@jam4441]

A few nerdy questions...when you remove some of the paste from the jar 2.55 did you drain the water layer off first? Also how do you drain water off - are you using a syringe each time you change the water layer and finally how long does this made up paste last? Many thanks

[@V10lette579]

Where would I find a cook & stir machine? I’ve looked on the internet and nothing like what you have comes up. 🦋

[@ThePreservationLab]

Unfortunately, ours is several decades old! It's probably been here since the initial days of the Conservation Dept, which began in the late 80s. Sorry!

[@illanaudrey3590]

Is wheat starch paste cationic?