7 Tips On Book Restoration And Maintenance

7 Tips On Book Restoration And Maintenance

Books are likely to fall apart over time. In other cases, they are damaged by acid, water, fire, etc. They may also fall and tear the cover in the process. Book restoration ensures that your treasured publication regains its usable condition. It may also be a rare collection that you wish to keep clean and in good condition. Here are tips you need to complete the work effectively.

What needs to be done during restoration? The type of element that damages a book and its features determine the kind of repair required. A different form of attention is required when the spine is detached compared to when a few pages are torn. The type of binding used also determines the materials required and procedure to be used. Some areas require simple mending while others need more attention.

Gather all the materials and tools you need. These materials are determined by the repair works required. The common tools and materials needed are glue, different tapes, thread and scissors. The glue used is specifically for binding papers. The thread ties together the signature pages before they are glued to form the spine. The working area should be well lit and spacious. It makes your work easier.

Work on signature pages before going to the covers and spine. Re-glue individual pages and signatures before working on the cover. It is easier to work on smaller sections and latter moving to the entire spine. A waxed thread is used to create the signatures. The knot should be tied tightly to prevent it from coming off when working on the spine.

The binder tape is then cut and applied on both spine and cover. It should be the length of your spine. You need to attach it on the inner cover and inner spine before gluing. This requires double work to cover all the areas. By applying pressure on the spine and tape, the glue easily holds. To assist you in applying pressure, use a Teflon or bone folder.

There is need to keep the text on the cover visible. As such, a clear tape is used. There is need to apply pressure when binding the spine to ensure that the cover holds effectively. Leave an allowance to ease opening and closing. The gutter and spine in general are pressed when gluing to eliminate bubbles that otherwise weaken the bond.

The Teflon or bone folder used to provide pressure is removed ones the glue has effectively held the cover. In some cases, rubber band is used. The binding should be strong enough to allow you hold the book upside down by the cover without tearing. As final touches, clip any loose ends and mend the corners. Anything that can reinforce the spine is added. Your book is now ready for use.

To avoid damage, keep books away from basements. Such areas get dump, a condition that destroys the paper. When storing it, it is recommended that the spine be upright to avoid unnecessary weight on any part. Use bookmarks instead of folding pages and never bend it when reading. Store in a dry place and use a cloth instead of air tight plastic to avoid odorous books.

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