Kevin's Watch

Hi, one of my hobbies is book binding. If you post a pic of the damage I can post some instructions that may help. Its hard to give accurate advice without seeing the book.

Unfortunately, I don't have a digital camera. Does the description of the damage in my first post help at all?

The signatures are intact, the flyleaf and endsheet are in one piece, the hard cover is in one piece. It's just that the back flyleaf, along with the hard cover, has separated from the rest of the book and is flapping free.

MsMary wrote:I have an almost brand new hardcover textbook whose binding has opened up. The flyleaf/endsheet is in one piece, but it has separated from the book cover, so that the back cover of the book flaps free. I can see the binding tape and where it would attach to the cover, so I suspect that I could repair it myself, but I am not sure how to do it, what type of glue I would need, or whether I would need additional materials.

(1) Use Elmers glue or Elmer's Carpenters glue to glue the cover back to the binding.

(2) remove the endsheet, which will get in the way of the next step.

(3) Use clear packing tape to tape the back cover to the last page of the book. With the back cover in the open position, place a long piece from top to bottom so that it joins the back cover to the last page. Now close the book, and the tape should be folding in half the long way.

(4) Let it dry standing up with the book end down.

Unless you want a book that looks nice rather than is merely functional.

Thanks for the instructions, wayfriend. Have you repaired a book that way? I will have to see if your instructions will work for me.

I was told that Elmer's glue was not the best. And the wiki-how article indicates that it's best to use a specialize glue and tape made for book binding.

My hope is that the book will be functional and look fairly ok, not messed up. But the latter is less important than functionality.

Bookbinding tape is a must. It's got strings running through it that make it a lot tougher against the constant bending it'll go through.

Gotcha. Thanks for that info.

Godamn textbooks. I swear to god that industry is a racket and needs to be dismantled. (Or someone needs to edge in a nice sexy free market solution) I'm betting the book was designed to break down.

MsMary wrote:The signatures are intact, the flyleaf and endsheet are in one piece, the hard cover is in one piece. It's just that the back flyleaf, along with the hard cover, has separated from the rest of the book and is flapping free.

OK, I assume that the flyleaf/end sheet are attached to the back cover and these are together as one but detached from the block of signatures - if this is the case all you need do is apply some glue (PVA wood glue is ok if you don't have bookbinders paste or a combination of paste & PVA which used often in book repairs). Apply some glue, or paste if you have some, about a quarter of an inch wide along the edge of the flyleaf nearest the spine. Close the cover carefully so that it is located correctly, place a heavy book on top for weight and leave for about an hour. The book should be OK now.

If the flyleaf and endsheet are together but detached from the signatures and the back cover, than it needs a little more work to fix, but it is straight forward. First attach the fly/ endsheet to the signatures as described above - run some glue or flour paste along the spine edge of the flyleaf about a quarter of an inch wide. Carefully line the edge, paste side down along the edge of the spine in its correct place. Allow to dry under a light weight (a large book like a dictionary is good). Should be ready in about 30-60 minutes. Get a piece of scrap paper that can be placed between the flyleaf and the endsheet (or the leaf that will be attached to the back cover) to act as guard again paste getting on the wrong side of the paper. Apply some paste to the side of the paper that is to be glued to the cover using a stiff brush (small house painting brush is OK). Work from the centre of the paper out towards the edges. Apply the paste evenly and quickly (because the paper will stretch and curl under itself). Remove the waste paper an carefully slip a sheet of grease proof paper (lunch wrap paper will do nicely) under the endsheet to keep everything from sticking together in the wrong places. Be careful because the paper will curl under itself. Carefully close the cover over the pasted end sheet and apply a few heavy books on top for weight. Leave over night to dry. The book should be ready for use in the morning. The grease proof paper will pull away easily.
Paste is better than glue (just make a thick mix of plain flour and water - the thicker the better - cook it over a low flame stiring all the time until the paste thickens (not runny). It will continue to thicken as it cools. Paste is best as it can be repaired again and again and will not damage the paper. PVA can not be repaired again.
Good luck.

These are excellent instructions, Maharg.

You understood the nature of the damage to the binding exactly:

OK, I assume that the flyleaf/end sheet are attached to the back cover and these are together as one but detached from the block of signatures

Thanks for your help!

So, I tried to get the publisher to replace the book. The customer service rep told me I had to contact the book seller. The book seller said they can't replace the book, but they gave me a 20% refund.

Now, I have to repair the book. I don't a flour and water glue will be such a good choice in this climate - it'll attract ants and other nasty insects - so I am going to see if I can find an appropriate book repair glue at a crafts store.

Just normal wood glue from your nearest stationery/craft shop works perfectly.

--A

Maharg indicated that paste is better cause it won't damage the paper if a second repair is needed - which I hope won't be the case anyway.

You know, I still haven't repaired this book. My problem being that I have to use it.

And another book from the same publisher is starting to break.

The crappy workmanship on books these days!

That sucks MAJOR MsMary.

Weak.

That's really pathetic, MsMary. I can't remember (and am too lazy to read the first page of this thread...) -- are these hardback books?

I once had a mass market paperback of Mark Twain's stories implode on me. The binding glue stuck to the cover okay, but it didn't stick properly to the edges of the pages, so that the pages fell out as I turned them. What a fabulous experience....

Damn, I hate that. Harder to fix too. You need a couple of clamps and a big guillotine...clamp pages, guillotine off the last 5mm of every page, including the entire spine (and the front and back cover pages) in one shot, (paperbacks only obviously).

Then make a new spine out of stiff cardboard, cover with glue, coat the exposed new backs of the pages lightly too maybe, press one to the other and clamp that way too until dry. Can glue the old spine cover to the back of the new spine.

(I used to work at a printing company, which included a bindery. The ladies who worked there used to repair my books for me whenever I asked. I miss that. (The job sucked though. ) )

--A

Wow, sounds like a lot of trouble for a novice, Av. I think I pursued the wisest course and just threw the bloody thing away.

I...can't...bring...myself...to...throw...any...books...away...

--A

Well, I should be clearer: First I scotch-taped the pages back in as they fell out individually. I ended up with a big, huge, uneven mess. Kept it for many years anyhow. Finally tossed it. Even then, it was hard....

Hahaha

--A