Hardback Bookbinding Repair Instructions - Part 2 - Sections

Part 1 of this series of articles covered the basicthe section away from your book gently.
bookbinding instructions to repair loose and torn7. Remove any glue and thread from the back of the
endpapers. This article covers loose sections in asection and place it face downwards on your work
multi-sectioned book. If your book has only one section,surface. Repeat this process for all the remaining
these instructions will still give you some answers -sections, keeping them in their correct order.
you'll just be finished your repair faster!8. The outside sections of your book may have a
Sections refer to printed sheets folded to page sizecrease from the original backing in their folds - this is
for binding together, with other such sheets, to form aknown as the old groove and should be removed
book. Signatures are the letters or figures printedbefore you begin repairing the sections. Place the
below the text at the foot of the first page of eachsection on a hard smooth surface and tap the fold
section.fairly hard with a hammer. A few sections can be
Pulling - separating the sections from the original bindingdone at the one time depending on the type of paper.
- should be done with the least possible damage to theIt is safer to start in the middle of the section and
folds of the sections.move it.
1. Open the front cover of your book and the front9. Sections with back folds that are torn or separated
flyleaf if it has one.can now be repaired with "guards". Check the grain
2. Press firmly on the body of your book and pull thedirection of the page to be repaired and cut a strip of
cover and flyleaf away from your book until the mullpaper 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" longer than the page to be
(the open weave material used to reinforce the spine)repaired.
and the tapes or cords are visible.10. Paste the strip on one side and pinch the ends
3. Cut these carefully with a sharp knife. Repeat thetogether with the paste side inwards. (This stops the
process for the back cover and then the cover shouldstrip from curling up).
be free from your book.11. Place the strip in the centre of a sheet of waste
4. Remove as much of the back lining mull and glue aspaper and then place the back of the damaged page
possible. If there is still a lot of old glue remaining, placealong half the strip.
your book between two pieces of waste hard12. Lift the waste paper so that the other half of the
cardboard with about 1/2" of your book protruding.strip is placed on the page and press down through
Cover the spine with a thick coating of paste andthe waste paper.
leave it to stand for 10 minutes - this will allow the old13. Allow the paste to dry completely then trim off the
lining and glue to soften. Scrape off the old glue andexcess guards exactly level with the top and bottom
lining with the back of a knife and leave to dryof the pages.
completely.14. When all your guarding repair work is complete,
5. Turn over the first pages of your book until youcollate the book making sure the sequence of
come to the first stitches of sewing thread. Cut all thesignatures is correct.
stitches with a sharp knife. Turn over the same15. The sections of your book can now be sewn
number of pages and you should see the signature at(covered in another article) and your book can be
the bottom of the right hand page which indicates it isrebound (also covered in another article).
the first page of the next section.Single pages can also be repaired with guarding and
6. Close the first section, grip it firmly in your left hand,then returned to your book by tipping in (a thin line of
press down on your book with your right hand and pullglue at the spine edge).