Bookbinding
I've taken up a new hobby that requires less room and creates less sawdust than woodworking.
I start with the pages printed out on paper so that 4 pages are on each sheet, 2 pages on each side of the sheet. I fold each sheet, and will eventually tuck 8 sheets into each other. That makes the order of the pages on the sheets a little tricky. For example, of the 32 pages on the 8 sheets, pages 1, 2, 31, and 32 are on the outside sheet. Pages 15, 16, 17 and 18 are on the inside sheet.
I punch 6 holes in the fold of each sheet. In order to get the holes on the same place of each sheet, I use thumb tacks stuck in a piece of cardboard.
After all the holes are made, I tuck 8 sheets of folded paper into groups called "signatures". In this photo, you can only see the outside sheet of the 18 signatures. But actually all 144 pages are there.
I then stitch the signatures together with some heavy thread. The thread has to go from the inside of the fold of each signature, through a hole and out to the outside of the fold. The thread also loops around a cord on the outside of the fold. A single thread is used, so all the the signatures are connected by the thread.
Also, the cords keep the signatures together. In this photo, you see where the thread runs from one signature to the other at the holes at the ends. You also see that the thread loops around cords at the 4 holes in the middle.
With all the signatures pressed tightly together between clamps, I use a small hammer to flatten the folds. This also bends a little of each signature to the outside. This results in a slightly rounded back.
Next, I stitch a piece of leather to the ends of book.
The edges of the signatures are uneven. So, with the book still pressed together between clamps, I shave off the edges of the signatures with a very sharp chisel.
Now the cover can be attached. I drill 4 holes in a piece of wood, and pass the cords through. I do the same for the back cover.
The cords are attached to the wood with glue.
Now the book is starting to look like a book.
I put some leather on the cover, and the book is nearly finished.
Some end paper on the inside of the cover completes the project!
I start with the pages printed out on paper so that 4 pages are on each sheet, 2 pages on each side of the sheet. I fold each sheet, and will eventually tuck 8 sheets into each other. That makes the order of the pages on the sheets a little tricky. For example, of the 32 pages on the 8 sheets, pages 1, 2, 31, and 32 are on the outside sheet. Pages 15, 16, 17 and 18 are on the inside sheet.
I punch 6 holes in the fold of each sheet. In order to get the holes on the same place of each sheet, I use thumb tacks stuck in a piece of cardboard.
After all the holes are made, I tuck 8 sheets of folded paper into groups called "signatures". In this photo, you can only see the outside sheet of the 18 signatures. But actually all 144 pages are there.
I then stitch the signatures together with some heavy thread. The thread has to go from the inside of the fold of each signature, through a hole and out to the outside of the fold. The thread also loops around a cord on the outside of the fold. A single thread is used, so all the the signatures are connected by the thread.
Also, the cords keep the signatures together. In this photo, you see where the thread runs from one signature to the other at the holes at the ends. You also see that the thread loops around cords at the 4 holes in the middle.
With all the signatures pressed tightly together between clamps, I use a small hammer to flatten the folds. This also bends a little of each signature to the outside. This results in a slightly rounded back.
Next, I stitch a piece of leather to the ends of book.
The edges of the signatures are uneven. So, with the book still pressed together between clamps, I shave off the edges of the signatures with a very sharp chisel.
Now the cover can be attached. I drill 4 holes in a piece of wood, and pass the cords through. I do the same for the back cover.
The cords are attached to the wood with glue.
Now the book is starting to look like a book.
I put some leather on the cover, and the book is nearly finished.
Some end paper on the inside of the cover completes the project!
posted by Richard Trewin | 9:14 AM
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