c/bookbinders

My handmade covers no longer bubble up thanks to a drying rack hack.

Propping them up at an angle while drying fixed everything.

Why I no longer rush through pressing signatures after a batch warped.

I spilled methyl cellulose all over my favorite shirt yesterday

Now I have a stiff, crinkly patch that looks like I tried to laminate myself.

Showerthought: Sorting my thread spools by color was a game changer for my rebinding project

I've been rebinding an old family cookbook for a few weeks now. My thread spools were always a mess, tossed in a shoebox, so I had to dig for colors. Yesterday, I sorted them by color and weight using cheap plastic bins. Labeling each bin took time, but now everything is in order. I grouped similar shades to speed up color selection. When I worked on the book tonight, finding the right thread was instant. That small organization step made the whole project more enjoyable. Now I'm excited to start my next binding job.

Why does nobody talk about how cover boards have gotten thinner over the years?

I was cleaning out my workshop and found some bindings I made a decade ago. The boards back then were thick and heavy, almost like cutting small planks. Today's materials are so much lighter, which is nice for my hands but doesn't give the same solid feel. It just makes me appreciate the old way things were built.

Ditched my bone folder for a teflon folder. Never going back.

The glide is so much smoother and doesn't leave marks on delicate papers. It's made my finishing work way cleaner.

Can we talk about storing book cloth in old cereal boxes?

It sounds silly, but it keeps the dust out and organizes by color. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

Showerthought: Polyester thread ruins book sewing every time!

I used it on a cookbook I was fixing up for my grandma. The slick surface made the knots pop open after just a few page turns. I redid the binding with cotton thread and it's solid as a rock now. Trust me, natural thread is worth the extra few cents!

Trying out recycled paper for endpapers surprised me.

It's just as strong and looks unique every time.

Seeing more requests to update heirloom books has me torn

I mean, lately I've noticed a bunch of folks bringing in old family books wanting them redone in bright colors or fancy leather. Idk, but it feels wrong to cover up the original binding that has history. Just last week, a customer asked me to put a shiny new cover on her grandpa's journal from the war, and it got me thinking. Maybe it's just me, but I think some things should stay as they are. What's your take on updating heirloom books?

A tight budget project taught me to appreciate adhesive bindings

Many bookbinders look down on adhesive bindings as less durable than sewn ones. I had to bind a community cookbook quickly and cheaply for a local group. Using a strong adhesive and proper clamping, the pages held together perfectly. The book has been used for months now with no signs of coming apart. This experience made me see that adhesive bindings have their place in practical projects. I still love sewn bindings, but for some jobs, glue works just fine. It was a nice win to deliver a solid book without a high cost.

Hand-stitching fell apart on my daily use journal

I bound my journal with hand-stitching thinking it would last. After a month of carrying it around, the threads are already loose. Is hand-stitching just for show, not for real use?

Crossed three states for that perfect marbled paper and what a letdown

Heard about this amazing paper mill from a forum buddy, decided to make a road trip. The place was packed, lines out the door, but the selection was tiny. Every marbled sheet I saw had blurry patterns or weak colors. Tried to ask about weight and grain, got shrugs from the staff. Drove back with just a few scraps that are useless for covers. So much for a fun material hunt, now I'm rethinking my whole project. Maybe next time I'll just order online and save the gas money.

Spine alignment keeps failing on my hardcovers

I've tried every method, but the books often come out crooked. It's driving me nuts. Any tips to fix this?