DIY Bookbinding

16 DIY BOOKBINDING

Attach the Cover Boards

With your book block of signatures lying face up, place a piece of scrap paper (wax paper

actually works better, if you have it) between the mull and the tapes and another piece

beneath the tapes. Brush the mull with glue.

Remove the top piece of scrap paper. Press the front cover board against the mull, making sure

1

/8" of the board

extends over the head, foot, and fore edges.

Open the front cover and rest it against a board (or another book) roughly the same thickness as your book along the spine

for support. Rub down the mull with a clean, dry cloth or paper until the glue works into the board and becomes almost dry.

Now, apply glue to the tapes and glue the tapes to the mull and cover board, making sure the tapes are perpendicular to

the spine. Discard the second piece of scrap paper, and place a clean piece of scrap paper between the cover board and

the first signature. Making sure the board is still straight, place the book under weights to dry for half an hour.

To make a more uniform surface (because any variance might show through the endsheets), draw a line on the inside of the

cover 1” from the spine and use your utility knife to trim only the mull and tapes along the line (don’t cut into the board).

Place a fresh piece of scrap paper between the cover and the first signature, and turn the book over. Repeat the process

for the back ...