Lesson 1Cutting, folding, an punching tools: knives, bone folders, folding sticks, ploughs, sewing frames, awls, an punching/marking gaugesReview cutting, folding, an punching tools weh essential to hand bookbinding. Learn safe, precise use of knives, bone folders, ploughs, sewing frames, awls, an gauges fi achieve clean edges, accurate folds, an consistent sewing stations.
Choosing an maintaining knives an bladesCutting mats, straightedges, an guidesBone folders, Teflon folders, an folding sticksPloughs an guillotines fi trimming blocksSewing frames setup an support alignmentAwls an punching templates fi sewing holesLesson 2Paper types an weights: properties of 90–120 gsm uncoated papers, fiber content, an behavior when foldedInvestigate uncoated paper types in di 90–120 gsm range, focusing on fiber content, surface, an folding behavior. Learn how grain, sizing, an bulk influence durability, show-through, an suitability fi different binding structures.
Wood pulp vs. cotton an mixed fiber papersBulk, caliper, an stiffness in text blocksInternal an surface sizing an ink behaviorFolding endurance an repeated opening testsOpacity, show-through, an print legibilitySelecting papers fi sewn versus adhesive textsLesson 3Adhesives overview: PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, starch pastes — properties, open time, penetration, reversibilityExplore common bookbinding adhesives, comparing composition, working time, penetration, flexibility, an reversibility. Learn when fi choose PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, or blended pastes fi stable, repairable bindings.
PVA types, flexibility, an aging behaviorMixing an cooking wheat starch paste safelyMethylcellulose uses, viscosity, an reversibilityBlended pastes fi controlled tack an open timeAdhesive penetration an paper sizing effectsStorage, labeling, an contamination preventionLesson 4Grain direction: identifying grain, why it matters fi folding, sewing, an casing-inUnderstand grain direction in paper, board, an cloth, an why it critical fi folding, sewing, an casing-in. Learn practical tests fi identify grain an how correct alignment reduces warping, cockling, an spine stress over time.
Simple grain tests: curl, tear, an wet lineGrain direction in text paper an endpapersBoard grain an its effect on warpingCloth grain an weave orientation on casesPlanning imposition an cutting fi grainConsequences of cross-grain constructionLesson 5Boards, cloths, an cover papers: thicknesses, stiffness, bend radius, an selection criteria fi books handled frequentlyExamine boards, cloths, an cover papers used fi frequently handled books. Learn how thickness, stiffness, bend radius, an surface durability influence comfort, protection, an longevity, an how fi match materials to project demands.
Comparing board types: millboard, binder’s boardSelecting board thickness fi book sizeCloth durability, weave, an backing papersCover paper weight, strength, an opacityBend radius an hinge performance at jointsMaterial combinations fi heavy-use volumesLesson 6Safety, workshop ergonomics, an preservation-friendly material choices fi archival durabilityLearn safety practices, ergonomic setups, an preservation-minded material choices fi archival work. Topics include tool handling, posture, lighting, ventilation, an selecting stable, low-emission materials dat age predictably an safely.
Knife safety, cutting habits, an first aidBench height, seating, an body alignmentLighting, magnification, an eye comfortVentilation fi sprays, solvents, an dustChoosing pH-neutral, buffered materialsAvoiding off-gassing an unstable plasticsLesson 7Finishing materials an protective coatings: acrylic sprays, waxes, size mixes; pros an cons fi cloth-covered hardbacksReview finishing materials an surface coatings used on cloth-covered hardbacks. Compare acrylic sprays, waxes, an size mixes fi protection, sheen, an feel, while weighing long-term stability, reversibility, an reader handling needs.
Acrylic sprays: film formation an aging risksWax finishes: application, sheen, an slipSize mixes fi cloth: recipes an dilutionTesting coatings on offcuts before useBalancing protection, feel, an appearanceReversibility an retreatment considerationsLesson 8Measuring an layout tools: templates, spacing calculators fi spine width, grain allowance, an cover overhangsSurvey measuring an layout tools dat support accurate case construction. Learn fi use rulers, squares, templates, an spacing calculators fi determine spine width, grain allowance, squares, an cover overhangs fi consistent results.
Steel rules, squares, an dividers in layoutReusable templates fi common book formatsCalculating spine width from text thicknessPlanning cover overhangs an board squaresAllowing fi swell, linings, an endpapersRecording measurements in project worksheetsLesson 9Threads an sewing supports: linen thread, waxed vs. unwaxed, tapes, cords, an sewing tapes characteristicsStudy threads an sewing supports used in hand binding. Compare linen thread sizes, ply, an waxing, an examine tapes, cords, an sewn-on supports fi understand how dem influence swell, flexibility, an structural strength.
Linen thread grades, ply, an tensile strengthWaxed vs. unwaxed thread: pros an consMatching thread size to paper an section countCloth tapes, paper tapes, an dem behaviorCords an raised bands fi traditional stylesControlling swell wid supports an tension
