repairing signatures

Re-Attaching Detached Signatures – Method 2

Repairing Fully or Partially Detached Signatures

Method 2:
If the spine of the text block is accessible, such as when the text block is being recased, the repaired signature can be sewn back into the text block.

Punch sewing holes in the detached signature, as well as one signature before it in the text block and one signature after it.

Use link stitch (separate post) to sew through the center of these three signatures and through the spine lining papers.

If the resewn signature does not sit in the text block evenly, trim it to size.

Re-attaching Detached Signatures – Method 1

REATTACHING PARTIALLY OR FULLY DETACHED SIGNATURES

Method 1:

Find the center of the signature and cut the sewing threads to release the pages.
If any of the leaves have separated, hinge them together with Japanese tissue to restore the complete signature.
Make sure the pages are in the correct order.
Tear a piece of Japanese repair tissue the height of the signature and about 3/4 – 1” wide.
Fold the Japanese repair tissue strip around the outside of the signature (there is no paste involved here).
Using thin thread, sew the signature to the repair tissue with a 3 or 5 hole pamphlet stitch.
Put a piece of waste paper on top of a piece of wax paper then put both between one side of the Japanese repair tissue and the separated text page.
Apply paste to one side of the folded repair tissue.
Position the repaired signature with its pasted repair strip into the text.
Close the book and let dry.
When the first half of the repair strip is dry, repeat on the second half of the repair strip.

The reattached signature may not sit into the text block exactly as it originally did. If the signature protrudes past the edges of the text block, trim the reattached signature to the correct size.

Repairing the Center Folio of a Signature

The damaged fold of a center folio should be repaired on the inside. All the other folios are repaired on the outside.
Using the techniques in earlier posts tear a piece of Japanese tissue and apply paste to the Japanese tissue. The width of the Japanese tissue will vary depending on how much of the signature page is damaged.

Lay the center folio of the signature on a piece of non-stick material with center facing up.
Lay the pasted repair tissue down the center of the folio.
Lay a strip of wax paper along the fold.
Carefully close the page.
Place the folded page between blotters. Put under weight to dry.

If the other folios in the signature do not need repair, place them in the correct position around the center folio then re-attach the signature to the text block following the instructions in a separate post.
If all or some of the other folios need repair, continue with the instructions in the next posts.

All paper tears should be mended before re-attaching a signature to the text block. Various techniques for repairing damaged paper are discussed in earlier posts within the Book Repair Basics category.

Examine the sewing holes on the fold of each folio. If the sewing holes are enlarged or the paper between the holes is damaged, the fold should be repaired before the folio is re-attached to the text block. If the damage is limited to one or two sewing holes or to only part of the fold, repairing that portion of the fold is sufficient.
It is not always necessary to repair each folio of a signature. The center and outside folios often sustain the most damage. Repairing only those two folios is faster and decreases the thickness of repair tissue in the repaired signature.
When most or all of the folios in a signature are badly damaged, each folio should be repaired.
Repair the folds of the folios in the folded position. Paper repaired flat then folded tends to have a very sharp crease while the original signature folds tend to be rounded. Repairing the folios in the folded position helps retain the proper shape and placement of the fold.