rebacking a hardcover book – How To Repair Your Favourite Books

Rebacking Method 2 – Mounting the Original Spine onto the New Book Cloth Spine

Peel as much of the original paper spine inlay from the original spine cloth as possible. If the paper is well adhered to the cloth, don’t force it off the spine cloth.
Trim the frayed edges with a straight edge and X-acto knife, taking care not to remove any of the letters or design.
Lay the original spine against the new book cloth spine to check for a proper fit. The original spine should not extend into the hinge area as it will add bulk that will inhibit the cover from opening freely. Trim the original if it is too wide.
Lay the original spine wrong side up on a piece of waste paper and apply PVA glue in a star burst pattern.
Position the original spine over the new book cloth spine.

MAKE SURE THE SPINE IS RIGHT SIDE UP TO THE TEXT BLOCK.

Cover the original spine with a piece of wax paper and rub down with a folder.
With the wax paper still covering the spine, wrap the book snugly in an elastic bandage (the kind used for a sprained ankle). Pull the bandage tight as the book is wrapped. The bandage will apply even pressure over the entire curved spine.
When the spine is dry, double check that all the edges are adhered.

Rebacking Method 2 – Attaching The Second Side of the New Book Cloth Spine

Cover the spine inlay with wax paper and blotters. Apply weight and let dry.
When the spine inlay is dry, gently wrap it around the text block with the new book cloth on top of the original book cloth.
Use the long edge of a folder to work the cloth into the hinge area.
Lift the original book cloth and lay the new spine cloth in place. If the new spine cloth is too wide to fit, trim it down.
Lift up the new book cloth and apply PVA glue to the book board.
Work the glue all the way back into the area where the original book cloth and book board are still attached.

DO NOT put glue in the joint area or glue down the original book cloth.

Lay the new book cloth back in place. Work the cloth into the hinge area with the long edge of a folder.
Protect the cloth with wax paper if necessary.
Put the book under weight to dry for at least 10 minutes so the glue will set.
If the new spine cloth extends past the top or bottom of the book more than 5/8”, trim it down.
Clip the points off the corners for ease in turning-in.
Protect the bottom extension of spine book cloth by placing the book on another stack of boards or another book.
Carefully tuck in the right side of the turn-in, then the spine area, and finally the left side of the turn-in.
With the entire patch tucked in place, gently crease the top edge of the patch along the boards and in the spine area with your fingers.
Set the book on the work table to check the position of the turn-in area. The edge of the new spine book cloth should be level with the original boards so it rests flat and even against the table. If there is space between the table and the new spine book cloth or if the book cloth wrinkles against the table, the turn-in is not correct. Readjust the turn in. Check it again.
When the turn-in is positioned correctly, lay the book on its spine. Use a folder to crease the turn-in in position. This crease sets the turn-in position and makes it easy to reposition it once the glue is applied.
Unfold the turn-in, brush on PVA glue, and carefully refold.
Use a folder to crease the glued turn-in into its previously creased position.
Re-check to make sure the spine area sits flat against the edge of a work table. If there is a gap or wrinkles, reposition the turn-in before the glue dries.
Wipe away any excess glue. Work the new book cloth into the hinge area with a folder.
Put wax paper inside the book hinge area to protect the end sheet from excess glue. Insert rods or knitting needles in the joint and dry under weight.
Let dry for at least ten minutes and repeat the procedure on the other end of the book.
Apply glue to the raised flaps, and lay them into position, pressing them onto the new book cloth. There may be a slight gap between the flap and the edge of the endpaper.
Lay a strip of wax paper in the joint areas, insert rods or knitting needles and dry overnight under weight.

Rebacking Method 2 – Measuring the Width of the Joint

After the glue has set, use one of the following methods to mark the width of the joint. This gives the position of the spine inlay on the new spine cloth.

Method 1:

Lay the book on the work surface with the new spine cloth against the table, wrong side up.
Slip a rod into the joint against the table, press down gently on the joint area.
Mark the position where the shoulder of the text block spine meets the new book cloth.
Repeat this measurement on the other end of the book.

Method 2:

The joint width can also be measured with the book upright.
Protect the new book cloth by supporting the text block on the edge of the work table or a pile of books.
Wrap the new book cloth around the spine and press the new cloth into the joint with your fingers.
Mark the position of shoulder on the new book cloth.
Repeat on the other end of the book.

Lay the paper spine inlay on a piece of waste paper and apply glue in a star burst pattern.
Use the pencil marks to position the glued spine inlay onto the wrong side of the new book cloth spine making sure the inlay is even with the top and bottom edges of the cover boards.

Rebacking Method 2 – Choosing and Attaching One Side of the New Book Cloth Spine

Choose a piece of book cloth that is a close color match to the original book cloth. If a close color match isn’t possible, select a color that has the least amount of contrast, i.e., black book cloth on a dark blue book would be less noticeable than light blue book cloth.
Transfer measurements A and B to the book cloth. Be sure the grain of the book cloth is parallel to the spine of the book. Cut the new spine piece.
Turn back the original book cloth on one cover (be careful not to crease it). Brush PVA glue on the exposed board. Work the glue all the way back into the area where the original book cloth and book board are still attached.

DO NOT put glue in the joint area.

4. Lay the new book cloth on the glued book board, with the right side up. Use a folder to press the new book cloth onto the board.
DO NOT glue down the original book cloth.

5. Work the cloth into the joint with the long edge of a folder. Protect the new book cloth with a piece of wax paper if necessary.
6. Insert rods in the joints and put under weight. Let the book dry for at least 10 minutes, so the glue will set

Rebacking Method 2 – Reinforcing the Spine

The spine area of the new spine cloth should be reinforced with an acid-free paper, or several layers of acid-free bond paper.
The spine inlay should be the same width as the text block spine and the height of the book boards, not the text block. It is a common mistake to cut the spine inlay the same height as the text block, which is shorter than the book boards.

Cut a spine inlay the width of the text block spine (original measurement A)
and longer than the height of the book boards. It will be trimmed later. The
grain of the spine liner must be parallel to the spine of the text block.

Double check the width of the spine inlay paper by laying it against the text block spine. It should fit the spine from shoulder to shoulder without curving into the joint area.
Trim the spine inlay to the correct height. Remember it should be the height of the cover boards, not the text block.

Rebacking Method 2 – Lifting and Trimming the Original Book Cloth

Gently lift the book cloth away from the board by sliding a folder or dull knife under the book cloth on the outer cover.
Lift the book cloth only as far as the cut at the top of the endpaper will allow, lifting a thin layer of book board with the cloth if necessary.

Try not to crease the book cloth as it is lifted or the crease line will show when the cloth is glued back in position.
Insert a piece of thin cardboard between the original book cloth and the book board to use as a cutting surface.
Place a straight edge along the ragged edge of the book cloth and use an X-acto knife or scalpel to trim the book cloth away from the hinge area.
Try not to trim away any print or decoration on the cover.
Turn the book over and repeat on the other side

Rebacking Method 2 – Lifting the Endpapers

Support the book with another book or a stack of boards.
Use an X-acto knife or scalpel and ruler to cut through the book cloth along the edge of the endpapers at the head and tail. The cut should be about 1 – 2” long.

At the outer edge of the first cut (away from the spine), make a second, 90-degree cut across the book cloth from the edge of the endpaper to the top of the book board.
Use a knife or microspatula to lift the book cloth away from the book board. If necessary, clip through the original book cloth turn-in at the hinge to allow the cloth to lift up. DO NOT clip through the endpaper or the crash.
Repeat this cut at the other end of the cover and on the opposite book board.
If the turn-in in the spine area is completely loose, remove it.
Insert a microspatula or dull knife between the original turn-in under the endpapers (the part of the book cloth cut but not lifted above and the book board. The original book cloth turn-in will support the endpaper as it is lifted.
Loosen only a small amount of the endpaper as more can be separated later if needed.

Rebacking – Lining the Text Block Spine

Now that you have removed the original spine, we continue with Method 1 for rebacking a hardcover book.

Lining the Text Block Spine

When the book cloth spine is removed, examine the paper spine liner attached to the text block. This paper spine liner consolidates the signatures of the text block and helps evenly distribute the stress of opening the book. Many modern book manufacturers do use enough paper liners or a good quality of paper to line the spine. In many instances, the paper spine liner is not even completely glued down. Taking the time to replace the spine liner ensures the book will function better and last longer.
Open the text block to the center of the book and see how the spine arches. Does it form a gentle curve or a sharp “V”? When a book opens with a sharp “V”, all the stress of opening the book is concentrated in one place. A gentle curve evens out the stress of opening the book.
If the original paper liner is not adhered to the spine of the text block, remove it by gently pulling it away or scraping it away with a dull knife. Be careful not to damage the crash or the sewing threads. It is not essential that all the paper be removed.
If the original paper spine liner is well adhered but not heavy enough to form a gentle curve when the book opens, add additional paper liners to create the gentle curve.
Measure the thickness of the text block from shoulder to shoulder with a strip of paper. Save this measurement until the repair is completed.
Transfer the measurement to the spine liner paper and cut a strip of spine liner paper. The cut strip should be longer than the height of the book boards. Remember the grain of the spine liner should run up and down the spine of the book.
It is best to use a medium weight paper to line the text block spine; two or three layers of thin paper is better than one thick layer. Acid-free papers or Japanese repair tissue can be used. The paper spine liner must have the grain running from the head to the tail of the book and should be the exact height and width of the text block spine.
Lay the spine liner against the spine of the text block, mark the height and then trim the spine liner to the exact height of the text block.
Apply adhesive to the spine liner paper in a star burst pattern and position on the text block spine.
Firmly attach the paper spine liner to the text block spine using one or both of the methods below.

1. Use a folder to rub the paper spine liner to the text block spine. Make sure the paper liner is well adhered to the text block; pay special attention that the edges (sides, head and tail) are firmly attached.
OR
2. A 1” stencil brush makes a good tool to firmly attach the spine liner to the text block. Use an up and down tapping motion to work the spine liner into the text block. Pay special attention that the edges (sides, head and tail) are firmly attached.

Let the paper liner dry then open the book. If the open text block forms a “V” instead of a gentle curve, repeat the procedure. Many books need more than one layer of paper liner, especially if they are large or heavy