I recommend stuff.
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Equipment
- Affordable Binding Equipment – Jim Poelstra is a talented cabinetmaker who also makes binding equipment.
Suppliers
- Talas – The go-to place for bookbinding and conservation/restoration supplies.
- Hollander’s – Decorative papers and other supplies.
- Lineco – Basic, straight-forward products like tapes, adhesives, and kits.
Learning Resources
- Das Bookbinding – My favorite video tutorials for case binding.
- How To Repair Your Favourite Books
- Indiana University Libraries Book Repair Manual
Books (Amazon)
- Basic Bookbinding by A. W. Lewis – Excellent starting point!
- The Craft of Bookbinding by Manly Banister – Old school knowledge, great if you want to build your own binding equipment.
- Non-Adhesive Binding: Books Without Paste or Glue by Keith A. Smith – This was actually one of my college books. If you want to make books using just needle and thread, this is the resource!
- Book Repair: A How-To-Do-It Manual by Kenneth Lavender – Best repair and conservation guide I’ve found so far.
- Book Repair for Booksellers by J. Godsey – Quick and easy resource. Covers topics that more scholarly resources don’t often address, like sticker removal. A nice starting point for book repair.
Supplies (Amazon)
- Craft Knife, Fiskars SoftGrip – My preferred craft knife for precision work.
- Utility Knife, OLFA 9mm – The perfect small size if you want something more substantial than a craft knife. I use this for most of my cutting.
- Small Hammer – If you don’t want to spend money on a cobbler’s hammer for rounding and backing, this will work nicely for small books.
- Teflon Bone Folder Set – A very nice inexpensive set.
- Linen Binding Tape – Good quality and price.
- Blotter Paper – Professional versions are very expensive, but this works just fine.
- Silicone Release Paper – A step up from kitchen parchment paper in convenient sheet sizes.