Last week I tried using a bone folder on endpapers instead of just my fingers

I've been binding books out of my garage for about 4 years now, mostly doing repairs for local libraries. Last Tuesday I was working on a 1920s copy of "The Sea-Wolf" that had completely detached endpapers. Normally I just press them down with my thumb, but I kept getting these tiny ripples. So I grabbed my cheap bone folder from Hobby Lobby, the one I usually use for folding paper, and ran it at a 45 degree angle along the hinge. No ripples at all. The curve of the bone hit the paper way smoother than my knuckle ever could. The glue spread even too, like a thin coat of butter. Has anyone else had luck using a bone folder on endpapers versus just hand pressing?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakota_murphy909d ago

Yeah that "thin coat of butter" thing is spot on. I had the same problem with ripples on a rebind of an old Tom Sawyer, and switching to the folder fixed it instantly. The even pressure really makes a difference with how the glue sets.

benlewis8d ago

Wait, has anyone else had that issue where you try too hard to get the butter layer perfect and end up with bubbles instead of ripples? A buddy of mine was doing a rebind of an old copy of "The Old Man and the Sea" and he kept getting these tiny air pockets under the spine. He switched to a folder too, but he also started using a brayer to roll it out flat after each section. Said it felt like spreading peanut butter on toast, but the even pressure from the roller fixed it completely. Now he swears by the folder and brayer combo for any book under 50 years old.