u/Ben_jefferies

The thinnest thread Ive been brave enough to try yet!

I typeset Luke and Acts in the Otter type by Proctor.
Sewn Coptic link stitch style
Split boards attached to glued on mull
Quarter bound in goatskin
Tooled with foil not leaf
Title in the midst of the vine like TJCS would do

I had a number of discontents with a psalter I made for myself - so I redid it!

Always things to grow in - but i am very happy with all I was able to improve on version 1.2

1.0 is kinda beaten up - because I have been using it every day for 6 months.

Full video description here (pending):
https://youtu.be/OJCegQGRb6o

I am moderately proud for a first try (technically second TRY; I attempted one a couple weeks ago but bailed halfway through when I realized I didn’t know what I was doing.

Ok, so I feel like boxes are even MORE finicky than actual bookbinding! And there’s even less margin for error in measurements.

I tried to do the DAS “2.5” corner fold over but I did the cut out in the wrong direction so they went wonky. Still, amazing what a bone folder can smush down.

I of course had to do a little tooling :)

Question:
How do you avoid air bubbles??
How do you remedy air bubbles if you have them?

Just found this beauty on fb for $50, only 20 miles away!! (Book for scale: it’s a 36” swing arm!!)

I have never been able to get 90 degree shoulders — UNTIL TODAY! I am so proud!!

Variables that got worked out to this end:

Sewing less tightly
Thinner pva on spine before rounding
Needed a tighter press that puts pressure right there at the edge
Thinner signatures (less pages per signature)
Wait till PVA is quite dry till backing
Backing boards not cut too steep
Use a makeshift grottoir (sp?) to push down outside signatures initially before hammering
Hammer gently and often, not too hard

With a small file, a few dollars of brass rod from Amazon, and quite a bit of patience - I made these beauties - inspired by the tools of TJ Cobden -Sanderson: a thorn, a leaf, a heart, a star, and a bud

Half leather (chaps leather!), and book cloth

Sewn on raised cords

Got to use my new Kingsley foil stamper for the title panels!

The metal foiling color corresponds to the metal (tin) that corresponds to the planet (Jupiter) that governs the world of the volume (per Planet Narnia)

Tooled in an homage to a favorite Cockerell tooling pattern

This will be the first of 7 vols that will have the same style but use different color leather and different foil color

This is the first time I have been proud of the ears and headcap!!