Saturday, 1 September 2012

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Save Your Valuable Investment With Quality Book Binding Repair


Learning about book binding repair is the best way to save the valuable investment you have made in your home library. You may either do it yourself, or you may send volumes to a professional bindery. Either way, understanding this skilled craft is the way to decide which is best for you.

An attractive component of having a book restored is that you can actually mail it to a bindery if one is not nearby. Established binderies are well-versed in accepting materials from far away. It is common for them to receive volumes, do the work in house, and then return the completed project to its owner. The Internet offers the way to view material choices when you cannot be there in person. Check out the website for your bindery choice, and see what options you have for any paper or cover materials necessary.

If you live near a bindery, then plan a visit. You will see work in progress, material samples, and often collections of interesting covers. Being able to see and touch various papers and cover materials is a valuable experience. The feel and look of these materials vary widely. Seeing colors in person shows their true vibrancy. Textures come to life in person, too.

The person who will do the work will be able to show you a wide variety of materials so that you can choose the most attractive combination. Pricing information will be presented and any discussion about comparing options may be completed so that you can see and touch possible choices. Reading books is a tactile experience, so the feel of materials may be as important as the way they appear.

Binders are capable of repairing many problems. Simple fixes include torn or ragged page edges. For these, special tissue papers and repair tapes that stay supple and do not yellow are options. If the cover or pages are loose or falling, then gluing or sewing techniques must be used.

Some bindings are sewn in and some are glued. You can tell which kind you have by looking for the stitching. Open the volume and gently press the pages flat. You should be able to see threads if the pages have been stitched. If not, then you may be able to feel the hard ridges that typically are found when pages are glued.

In the process of refurbishing the pages that are loose or falling, a craftsman will typically take the back off the volume and resew the inner paperwork back together. During the process, any torn or missing areas of pages will also be attended to. The goal is to fix as much as possible with harming the paper and cover as little as possible.

The ancient art of book binding repair is also filled with the measurements and tools of skilled craftsmanship. You may find that learning how to do this is a lifelong endeavor and very enjoyable. Sign up for classes at a local bindery to see what it is all about. If you have a command over the basics, you will know how to best maintain your private library.


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