Introduction
Old books are often recycled or thrown away because of wear that causes the binding to fall apart. This guide will show you how to repair your old books and extend their shelf life. For this fix, you'll need book cloth, chipboard, and endpaper. Make sure to size these appropriately, as detailed under "Parts."
Please note that this guide is meant for basic cloth or paper bound hardcover books, not leather bound books or embossed hardcover books.
Tools
Parts
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Use the Xacto knife to cut the existing endpaper along the crease.
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Separate the book cover and set the pages aside.
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Put the new bookcloth on the worksurface with the back side (paper side) up.
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Lay the book cover on the new bookcloth.
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Use the ruler to measure a 3/4 inch margin on all sides of the book cover.
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Trace outlines for the margins on the bookcloth.
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Carefully remove the existing endpaper enough to expose the edges of the existing covers.
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Cut out the existing covers.
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Align the two covers with the outlines of the existing cover.
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Place the new spine on the book cloth, centered between the covers.
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Apply glue to the top margin.
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Fold the corners of the top margin to meet the top edge of the book covers.
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Press on the corners with your fingers until secure.
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Fold the top margin over the covers and spine.
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Repeat these steps on the bottom margin.
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Press the gaps between the spine and covers until secure. Repeat this step on the bottom margin.
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Close the book cover and fold the edges of the spine.
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Measure the existing endpaper from the book.
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Trace the dimensions on the new endpaper.
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Cut the new endpaper with the Xacto Knife.
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Apply glue to one side of the book.
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Attach the end page to the glued side.
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Let the glue dry.
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Repeat steps on other side.
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Apply glue to the back of each endpaper.
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Align the book pages to be centered on the spine.
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Attach the endpapers to the new cover.
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Press down until secure.
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Close the book.
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Put other books or another heavy object on top of the books.
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Let the new book cover dry.
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Your book is now rebound and for reading! Keep the dust jacket on the book to protect the new book cover from harm.
4 comments
Don’t know how long these instructions have been around, but I have to tell you that they are perfect. I am disassembling a large textbook and rebinding it into 4 sections. This wonderfully detailed info is precisely what I needed to have. Have bought all of my equipment and am ready to go.. I know this project will be a success because of your really clear instructions with the wonderful illustrations. Thank yo SO SO much! Maryann
Amazing work!