Instructions on how to repair hardcover books
Using the right needle will make sewing easy and more successful. Needles should be as small in diameter as possible, have a blunt point, and have an eye no larger than the shaft of the needle. If the sewing needle is much bigger than the thread used, it will make a hole that the sewing thread cannot fill up. Take some thread (see separate post on thread sizes) with you when you are purchasing your needles so you can be…
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Books are traditionally sewn with linen thread which is very strong and can be purchased in several sizes. Choosing the right thread is important for a successful repair. Using thread that is too thick can damage a book because the text block may not fit back in the original case. Thread that is too thin can tear through the folded signature paper. In general, it’s best to use as thin a thread as possible, but choosing the right thread depends…
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Many books are repaired with clear plastic tape or “sticky tape”. What appears to be a quick solution can become a long term headache. Before using plastic tape, it is important to understand how it works and how it affects books. Plastic tape is dangerous to use in books because it is unstable and causes a great deal of damage. Often two or three layers of tape will cover a single repair. The first repair did not work and additional…
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Document repair tapes differ from common clear plastic in several ways. The carrier (the part of the tape that holds the adhesive) is thin, acid-free paper, not plastic. It is not as stiff as plastic tape so a page can turn and bend more easily. The adhesive used is a neutral acrylic adhesive that should not dry up, yellow over time or seep out the edges of the document repair tape. Because this adhesive is neutral (neither’ acidic nor alkaline),…
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Heat set tissue is a thin tissue that has been coated with a heat activated, acrylic adhesive. The tissue is torn or cut to fit the tear or paper loss, laid in position and covered with silicone release paper (so the tissue doesn’t stick to the hot iron). The tissue is adhered to the paper with a heated iron (approximately 100 degrees F.). A standard household iron or tacking iron from a hobby store can be used to adhere heat…
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Japanese repair tissue is sometimes called “rice” paper, but this thin paper is made from the fibers of the mulberry tree, not from rice as the nickname implies. The strength of Japanesere pair tissue comes from its long fibers which make the paper very strong, even though it is very thin. Handmade Japanese repair tissues are made on a mold and have mold or “chain” lines which can be seen in the paper. These lines generally run the same direction…
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Book Paper and Book Cloth Many types of paper or book cloth can be used in manufacturing, binding and repairing a book. BOOK PAPER Although many different types of papers are used to print and manufacture books, three important types of paper to be familiar with in book repair are uncoated paper, coated paper and acid-free paper. Uncoated paper is the most common type of paper and is made from plant or tree fibers that are processed into sheets. Originally,…
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Books are constructed in several ways. Many repair materials work best on certain kinds of paper or in specific parts of a book. “The right tool for the right job” is an axiom that applies to book binding as well as other fields. Having a few specialized tools and understanding how to use them will save you time and energy. Here are some of the parts of a book you may get very familiar with when you start doing your…
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