Bookbinding tutorial 2
The BCUK pocket ledger
Binders proverb
A hour in the press is worth a week under the hammer
IMPORTANT LOOK AT IMAGES BEFORE YOU DO THIS
Terminology
The top edge of the book is called the head.
The bottom edge of the book is called the tail.
The front edge (where it is open leaves) is the fore edge.
The back edge of the book is called the spine.
Folded sets of leaves are called gathers or sections.
Single folded sheets are called bi-folds.
Sheets of paper that are added to the end of the book for decoration and attachment are called end papers.
Stage One
1 Take all sheets of paper and fold in half. To make A5 size sheets.
2 Take a polished bit of wood and flatten the creases of the fold as you go. Back of a stainless steel spoon will do.
3 Insert two folds into a third so you have a six leaf gather. Congratulations you have your first section (a good single malt is now called for).
4 Stack the sections evenly, spines in the same direction.
5 Place your post of sections o the middle of your A4 wooden board, place second board on top. Place heavy weight on top of this.
6 Pressing is a key operation; it squeezes out the air from the sections and also allows the paper to mould around the spine edge of the section. If you do not do this your book will become very sloppy when sewn and the sections will move eventually tearing themselves free. The longer you press the tighter the volume will become.
Leave to press for at least four days. In a traditional bindery the sections would go in a press between boards for about a month under extreme pressure.
7 Second day of pressing take out two sections and add end papers.
Take your coloured sheets of A3 paper and fold in half, these will be your endpapers. Remove exterior bi-fold from both sections and lay flat.
8 Cut endpaper after folding so that it is 5mm wider than the A5 folded section. Fold 5mm in from the fold to make a hook. What you are making is a classic hook guarded endpaper.
9 For the front end paper tip (stick) the 5mm hook spine of the coloured paper 5mm to the right of the fold using a 5mm wide glue line. For the rear endpaper tip (stick) the spine fold of the coloured paper 5mm to the left of the fold using a 5mm wide glue line.
When you look at the end sections you will now have in the front section 1 white leaf, 2 coloured leaves, 4 white leaves, 1 x 5mm coloured bi-fold stub, 1 white leaf, then the next section. The same will apply to the rear of the volume.
Put it all back, re-stack and place board and weights back. Do not touch for another two days.
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