c/bookbinders

My first commission for a custom poetry book almost went up in flames

I was edge gilding with a spirit lamp and knocked it over, scorching the cover. Had to redo the entire leather tooling in one night to meet the deadline. Ever had a project nearly ruined by a simple mistake?

3 comments

riverl75•1d ago

Vent: Everyone says to never use a hair dryer on leather, but it saved a project for me

I was working on a custom journal last month and the leather cover was just slightly too damp after dyeing. I needed it bone dry to start tooling the next day. All the advice says to let it air dry for 48 hours, but I was on a tight deadline. Out of pure panic, I took my wife's hair dryer, set it on the lowest cool setting, and held it a good 12 inches away, moving it constantly for about 15 minutes. The cover dried evenly with no warping or cracking, and I finished the tooling on time. I know it goes against every rule, but with the right distance and no heat, it worked perfectly in a pinch. Has anyone else found a weird shortcut that actually paid off?

2 comments

henderson.mason•1d ago

Need help with a leather paring knife choice

I was working on a full leather binding for a journal and had to pick between a French-style paring knife and a Japanese skiving knife. I went with the French one because it was cheaper, about $45. It worked okay for the spine but tore up the leather when I tried to thin the edges. My teacher in the class said, 'That tool is for a different job.' Anyone have a good fix for torn leather on a cover, or should I just start over?

2 comments

nancy_garcia63•1d ago

Shoutout to the old binder in Portland who told me to stop using PVA for everything

Last week I was at a small book fair in Portland, and I got talking with this binder who must have been in the trade for 40 years. He saw the book I was working on, a leather rebind of a 1900s novel, and asked what glue I used on the spine. I said my usual PVA mix, and he just shook his head. He told me that for older, more brittle paper, a wheat paste or starch paste gives a better, more flexible hold and is easier to reverse if needed. I've been using PVA for three years because it's fast and strong, and my whole crew does the same. But he argued that always reaching for the modern adhesive is a habit that can damage the very books we're trying to save. It got me thinking about when to stick with tradition versus when to use the new stuff. Has anyone else made a switch like that after a piece of advice from an old timer?

2 comments

eric_wells46•3d ago

My old boss said to never use hot glue on endpapers and I finally learned why

Honestly, I thought he was just being picky when he told me that 5 years ago. I used some on a small notebook last week because I was in a hurry. Ngl, it held fine at first, but after a couple days the paper started to warp and buckle near the spine. The heat and moisture from the glue messed up the whole lay-flat feel. Tbh, I should have just stuck with my usual PVA. Has anyone else had a project go wrong from using the wrong adhesive?

2 comments

jamie602•4d ago

PSA: I tried using that 'archival' PVA glue from the craft store for a repair on my 1908 copy of 'The Wind in the Willows' and it left a permanent, shiny stain on the foxing.

Has anyone found a truly pH-neutral adhesive that doesn't react with old paper, or is mixing your own wheat paste still the only safe bet for century-old books?

3 comments

chen.faith•4d ago

Shoutout to the $40 'quick-dry' glue that ruined a whole signature block

It took a full week to set and warped the paper... anyone know a better adhesive for text blocks?

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riverl75•6d ago

My trusty awl outlasted three machines

Hand tools from my apprenticeship still do the job best.

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jamie_clark•6d ago

My polyester thread binding has held up better than linen ones.

Maybe tradition isn't always the best guide for materials.

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sanchez.eva•9d ago

Can we talk about using scrap materials for bookbinding?

I had some scrap cardboard from moving boxes piling up in my garage. Then I saw it could be perfect for practice covers before I cut my good bookboard, which saved me a lot of hassle. What common stuff around the house have you tried in your projects?

2 comments

patricia42•10d ago

After my travel journal came undone, I gave synthetic thread a shot

I was all about using cotton thread for sewing signatures because it felt right for handmade books. But when a journal I made for a friend started falling apart after a few months in their bag, I tried nylon thread. The nylon holds knots better and doesn't stretch or break as easily. Now I use it for any book that might get rough handling.

2 comments

christopher952•11d ago

Just realized my folded endpapers are leaving visible seams

I've been binding books for a few months now, and I always fold my endpapers in half before attaching them. Recently, I saw a small gap where the endpaper meets the text block when the book is shut. It looks bad and I want to fix it. I tried pressing them harder and adding more glue, but the paper got too stiff. Maybe I'm folding them wrong or the grain direction is off. Has anyone else had this issue? How do you fold endpapers to avoid gaps? I could use some advice on getting them to lay flat. Let me know what works for you.

2 comments

robert_young51•14d ago

PSA: My cousin tried to HELP bind a book with duct tape.

I was showing my latest project at a picnic when my cousin decided to pitch in. He INSISTED duct tape would work just fine, but now the pages are stuck together forever. What's the weirdest 'help' you've ever gotten on a bind?

3 comments

maryp18•15d ago

My homemade paste was clumping until I changed the water temperature.

I found that using lukewarm water instead of cold makes the paste smooth and easy to spread.

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wendykim•15d ago

Question about why linen thread takes forever to source locally

I've been waiting three weeks for a simple spool to arrive.

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the_miles•16d ago

Noticed more talk about plant-based glue, so I tried it and now I'm confused.

I used a plant-based adhesive for binding a small notebook. It dried clear and looked great at first. However, the spine cracked after just a gentle use. I'm not sure if I applied it wrong or if the glue itself isn't suited for bookbinding. Has anyone else had similar problems with these new glues?

3 comments