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Repair Manual Home

Introduction

Guiding Principles

Setting up the Area


Toolbox

Parts of a book

Practical Guidelines

Identifying Repairable Materials

Glossary

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

Your Comments

Self-Closing Wrapper

Cleaning

Torn pages

Tip in a Page

Hinge Repair

Corner Repair

Sewing a Single Signature

Spine Repair

Air Dry Method

Hinge Tightening

FAQs

A Simple Book Repair Manual

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Self-Closing Wrapper

Note: While not technically a repair, wrapping a damaged book in a protective enclosure can be an economical, non-invasive, temporary treatment.

Suggested Equipment & Supplies

  • Map folder stock .010 for average size books, 20 pt. caliper for larger or heavier books
  • board for large or heavy books
  • PVA
  • Paper cutter
  • Scissors
  • Bone folder
  • Paste brush
  • Wrapped bricks
  • Scrap paper
  • Sponge or damp cotton cloth
  • Scalpel
  • Procedure:

    *Note: A wrapper is made of two long strips of folder stock cut against the grain, folded with the grain to enclose the book, and glued where they overlap to form a box.

    1. Measure the heigth and width of the book and cut two strips of folder stock against the grain. Each strip should be at least three times longer than the book is wide.

    2. Begin with the strip measured to the height of the book. Place it flat on a table and lay the book on top of the strip against the edge. Mark the edge of the book on the folder with a pencil.

    3. Place the straight edge ruler along the pencil marks and score the line with the bone folder. Crease the board to make a fold.

    4. Place the book upright against the newly formed right angle. Mark the edge of the book on the folder with a pencil.

    5. Place the straight edge ruler along the pencil marks and score the line with the bone folder. Crease the board to make a fold. The bottom of the wrapper is beginning to take shape.

    6. Place the book flat on a table with it snug against the fold. Mark the edge of the book on the folder with a pencil.

    7. Place the straight edge ruler along the pencil marks and score the line with the bone folder. Crease the board to make a fold.

    8. Continue until the book is wrapped by the folder stock. Trim the excess.

    9. With the inner wrapper still around the book follow the same procedure around the width of the book making creases along the grain. You should finish with two scored pieces of folder stock. Trim the excess.

    10. Place the outer (width) wrapper on a table and apply PVA to the middle section with a paste brush. Carefully place the middle section of the inner wrapper (height) on top and weight with a brick until dry. A strip of double-sided tape can be used instead of adhesive.

    11. Secure the wrapper by cutting tabs out of the horizontal flap. To do this start by measuring the midpoint of the fore edge of the outer horizontal flap. From the midpoint measure one inch up and one inch down. Mark these points with a pencil.

    12. On the tail and head of the wrapper measure two inches and three inches from the fore edge. (For smaller books use 1 1/2" and 2 1/2")

    13. Draw 2 parallel lines from the top and bottom fore-edge marks, to the first (2") set of marks.

    14. Draw angled line from head (3" mark) to top parallel line from fore-edge. Repeat from tail 3" mark.

    15. With scalpel and straight-edge, cut along these lines.

    16. Trim 1" off tab. (if small book trim 1/2" to 3/4")

    17. Place book in wrapper.

    18. Mark top and bottom angled corners of the tab and draw a line between the two.

    19. Remove the book.

    20. Mark a line 1/8" (toward fore-edge) on top and bottom of line from angled corners. Connect 1/8" marks with line between the two ends to create a drawn rectangle.

    21. Cut out rectangle to create slot for tab to be inserted into.

    22. Replace book and fold shut.

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