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Finally got the hang of rounding spines without tearing the leather
For the first couple years I was bookbinding, I used to just eyeball the spine rounding and hope for the best. About 6 months ago I started using a cheap set of bone folders I picked up at a craft fair, and actually marking the spine center before I start shaping. It took me wrecking about 4 commissions before I realized the trick was to go slow and work the spine in small passes. Has anyone else found a tool that made a big difference in their spine work?
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lisa83920d ago
@dianab68 I mark the spine after I glue it up but before the glue fully sets. It gives me just enough time to really work the shape in. For me, the tool that made a huge difference was a cheap wooden smoothing hammer from an estate sale. It lets me tap the spine gently without denting it. That plus the bone folder has cut down on my tears by a lot.
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