Can we talk about using beeswax on thread for Coptic binding

I was sure it was just a fancy extra step until I tried it on a project last month. Running the linen thread over a block of pure beeswax made stitching through the signatures way smoother, with less snagging. I used it on a 200-page journal and the difference in hand feel was real. Has anyone else found a specific wax brand that works better than others?

3 comments

3 Comments

ellis.charles2mo ago

Oh for sure, it's a total game changer. I thought it was just a craft hipster thing too until I tried it. The thread just glides through the paper and doesn't fuzz up as much. I just use the basic beeswax blocks from the fabric store, the brand doesn't seem to matter much. The real trick is not putting too much on or it gets gummy. Once you go waxed you never go back.

barbara3992mo ago

Wait, isn't that for sewing thread, not paper?

lisa8391mo ago

Wait, hold up. Beeswax? Like from actual bees? I thought you guys were talking about like a wax coating or something pre-made. My mind is kind of blown right now. So you're telling me I can just take a block of beeswax and run my thread through it and that stops the fuzz? That's wild. I gotta try this, I've been fighting with thread tangles on cardstock for years.