Rebinding
Most people have a much loved book that needs a little tlc. Or an older paperback with a cracking spine and pages falling out. I can take that old book and give it a new lease of life by rebinding it.
Paperback
A commercial paperback book isn’t made of signatures, which is the starting point for all my notebooks. Instead they have been ‘perfect bound’ meaning that single sheets have been bound together using hot glue, with no sewing involved. After a while this glue can stiffen which is why pages start falling out.
There is a way of repairing these books, a hand repaired ‘perfect binding’. After removing the old glue and levelling the spine I saw notches into the spine which are filled with string or hemp cord, then I glue it up and add mull and kraft paper.
These books can be given hardback covers and a ‘hollow back’ spine, allowing it to open easily.
Hardback
Hardback books are usually made up of signatures, and rebinding them can be easy or complicated, depending on the book and the method used. Some need to completely torn apart and re built from scratch
Many old hardbacks don’t need re-sewn. I can strip down the spine and repair broken pages with Japanese paper. Sewing on end bands can help reinforce the book as can adding sewn endpapers. I then bind the book with a rounded and backed spine and a hard cover.
For both paperback to hardback bindings, and hardback repairs I can utilise some features from the original covers or start a new cover design from scratch.
I usually use buckram to cover rebound books. In time I will be offering leather options but need to practice my leather paring skills to be confident of offering a quality service. They do say practice makes perfect!