Wait, is it the vase height or the water level that does it?

Yeah, wheat paste is the move for old paper. It just ages better without getting brittle like PVA can.

Feel that, @uma_jenkins63. Losing those early photos is the worst.

That "gamble on walnut" take is too harsh. I've used boiled linseed oil on it for ages and it works fine if you wipe off ALL the excess. The sticky mess happens when people leave it on like a paste instead of a thin coat.

Debugging meant hauling out those giant printed manuals.