How to make your own paper book?

[SamCapote]

I was reading that other wonderful thread here, but starting from scratch...I was wondering what steps a person would go through to make a decent quality book with the HP Premium Laserjet 32# paper? I think folding sheets in half would be a fine size (5.5 x 8.5"), but not sure about how many folded sheets in a section, how and what to sew with...then how many sections and how to make outside/glue.

 

So this is sort of a request for a "Dummy's Guide to Making Your Own Book." :embarrassed_smile: Thanks!

 

Has anyone made nice looking books for sale with that HP 32# paper already?

[elmer42]

While I have not made one, I have done a bit of research in hopes of making one and found a guide that I will probably end up following here.

[escribo]

It's really pretty easy. See this thread.

I've made a few with 32# paper, but using Southworth paper, not HP.

I've been covering them with leather instead of tissue, as that is what's

readily available and works easily for me. No doubt more expensive tho...

I've been meaning to get some pictures up... maybe tomorrow or

this weekend.

Edited January 2, 2009 by escribo

[escribo]

I think folding sheets in half would be a fine size (5.5 x 8.5"), but not sure about how many folded sheets in a section, how and what to sew with...then how many sections and how to make outside/glue.

1. Once you do a little reading up, you'll find that 8.5 x 11 paper will make a book at most 4.25" wide. You have to fold it with the grain.

2. I use 4 sheets per section because after folding, 8 thicknesses of 32# paper is all my paper cutter will handle.

3. I'm using some 4 strand thick cotton thread. Not the best solution (I hear linen is far superior), but for now it's what I have.

4. Here is how I've been stitching. Scroll down to the 'sewing' part.

5. I find 6 sections to be a pretty good solution -- 96 pages (4 sheets x 6 sections = 24 sheets; all those are folded in half for 48 leaves, two sides per leaf = 96 pgs.)

8 sections make a nicer size book (128 pages), but I find that much sewing tedious.

6. For the covers I've been using Master's Touch Artist Canvas Panels 7" x 9" available at Hobby Lobby -- pack of 3 for $3.59. Each one cut in half makes 2 covers

(front & back). No doubt regular binder's board would be cheaper, but I haven't gotten around to ordering any. Onto that I glue thin leather, also from Hobby Lobby.

They have a kidskin for ~$26 that'll cover 3 - 4x7 books and a couple of 3.5 x 5.

 

Good luck & have fun!

-jon

[SamCapote]

With those links and the other thread, I think I have enough to give it a go. Thanks!

 

Edit: Here is one other resource I found: http://www.aboutbookbinding.com/

Edited January 2, 2009 by SamCapote

[escribo]

With those links and the other thread, I think I have enough to give it a go. Thanks!

 

Edit: Here is one other resource I found: http://www.aboutbookbinding.com/

GOODONYAMATE!

 

For my very first I roughly followed Item #15 (How To Make a Simple Hardcover Book) here.

 

If you're at all handy you'll do fine; I see that you have the desire to do it, so that's a good start.

 

Have fun,

-j

[Nenona]

Here:

http://michaelshannon.us/makeabook/index.html

 

You could just forgo the actual cutting of the paper to size.

My only problem with this method is that you basically have to track down paper twice the size of the book you're making.

[13R14N]

I think folding sheets in half would be a fine size (5.5 x 8.5"), but not sure about how many folded sheets in a section, how and what to sew with...then how many sections and how to make outside/glue.

1. Once you do a little reading up, you'll find that 8.5 x 11 paper will make a book at most 4.25" wide. You have to fold it with the grain.

-jon

 

Jon,

 

Maybe you could help me understand the grain issue.

 

I have never been clear on the need (or method) to determine the grain of paper.

 

Just curious, I have searched, but I have not found a clear answer.

 

Most of my searches suffer from too much information.

 

TIA

 

-- Brian

 

 

[escribo]

I think folding sheets in half would be a fine size (5.5 x 8.5"), but not sure about how many folded sheets in a section, how and what to sew with...then how many sections and how to make outside/glue.

1. Once you do a little reading up, you'll find that 8.5 x 11 paper will make a book at most 4.25" wide. You have to fold it with the grain.

-jon

 

Jon,

 

Maybe you could help me understand the grain issue.

 

I have never been clear on the need (or method) to determine the grain of paper.

 

Just curious, I have searched, but I have not found a clear answer.

 

Most of my searches suffer from too much information.

 

TIA

 

-- Brian

Brian, do this: Take a sheet of paper and breathe on it, like you would if you were trying

to fog up a piece of glass. Because of the moisture the paper will curl up around the axis

of its grain. IOW, carried to the extreme it would curl up into a tube. The length of the tube

would be the axis of the paper's grain.

 

Put another way, paper will tear better along its grain. With the grain it tears fairly evenly.

Across the grain it tears very unevenly.

 

Now picture how a book would curl if it got wet. If the grain were running perpendicular

to the spine, the book would be ruined. If the pages curled up parallel to the spine, the book could

possibly be salvaged.

 

HTH,

-jon

[escribo]

with the HP Premium Laserjet 32# paper?

<snip>

Has anyone made nice looking books for sale with that HP 32# paper already?

Is that the same as HP Premium Choice Laser paper, 32lb, 98 brightness,

in a blue, pinkish-red, and white package? Above the UPC is the number 113100,

and below it is the code HPU1132.

 

That's the paper I was able to get at the Depot, $17 per ream.

My first impression is that it is not a very nice-looking or -feeling paper, but

it feels very nice under the nib.

 

Can anyone tell me if that's the right stuff, or do I need to keep looking?

 

TIA,

-jon

 

[13R14N]

... If the grain were running perpendicular

to the spine, the book would be ruined. If the pages curled up parallel to the spine, the book could

possibly be salvaged.

 

HTH,

-jon

Jon,

 

Thank you for your explanation, it does help.

 

I have not experienced nor even thought about the bad things that happen to books when they are subjected to abnormal conditions. All of my books have been well cared for, or they are paperback novels (does the grain issue apply to pulp quality paper?). having said that, I am thankful that someone has figured this out; no doubt many of my composition notebooks would be unusable if they had been constructed incorrectly.

 

-- Brian

 

 

[escribo]

I probably misspoke earlier in this thread saying you have to fold

with the grain. Of course, one can do as he likes. Under optimal conditions

that wouldn't be an issue at all, I imagine. Just a tip I picked up in my

virtual travels that made sense to me, but then I usually overengineer... :embarrassed_smile:

-j