Original Title: Is your collection of old books falling apart and pages are falling out? Here's the brief guide that makes rebinding an old book simple.
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Did you know the oldest known book is a solid gold, Etruscan book from 600 BCE? Luckily, not all tomes need to be this lavish to hold value. When the time comes to do repairs on your collection, do you know how to bind a weakened book?
This process takes time and concentration but can be done. Read on as we discuss the steps on rebinding an old book.
Detach the Binding Components
Sometimes, you need to take a step backward to move forward. That comes in the form of detaching the original bindings. Once they are removed, you can start over from scratch.
For this, place the book on a flat surface. You will need a sharp craft knife that can cut away the end sheet, mull, and covering material. After this, you should carefully begin to loosen and cut out the threads.
Flattening the Pages
Pages of your book will have been bound for a long time. As such, they will have an upturned groove at each end. It may be more severe depending upon their placement within the book itself.
Before you rebind the book, it helps to flatten these out. If the old book condition is very bad, you may want to hire a professional book service at this point so you do not damage the pages.
Tap them gently with a hammer or rubber mallet. Follow this by placing them on a clean board under weights until the groove has vanished. For any damaged pages, repair them with paper patches and guard strips.
Sewing the Pages
Place the pages on a board ready for piercing. You need to make sure that the holes are going to be situated away from any previous holes used for binding. This is to strengthen them and may result in uneven spacing.
Tape the pages at the spine end. Then begin to stitch them one by one.
Swelling may occur at the folded edge. For this, simply repeat the process of knocking the pages with a hammer and placing weights on the books. Once it goes down, you can continue with the binding.
Rounding the Back
Round the back by stacking the pages on a board. Gently mold the pages you have so far into a round shape. Then place another board on top to hold them in place.
Turn the pages over the hinge end and gently hammer them down. You should now have a slightly folded lip on this side. Continue binding the book and apply the spine and cover when finished.
Preserving Books
Once you have rebound the book, think about how you will store it to preserve its integrity in the future. If you are a book collector, you may already have certain methods and places. For people selling used books online, then think about the best way to transport them in the future.
Rebinding an Old Book
Now you have undergone the process of rebinding an old book, you will know the joy of repair. Ask around for others who may need books binding. You could open up a service or start a small business.
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