Specialized Equipment Recommendations for Bookbinding II

EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Specialized Equipment Recommendations for Bookbinding II or III CBBAG Home Study ProgrammeVendor information is current as of May 2021

For advanced hand bookbinding workshops, participants will need some specialized equipment to complete the projects successfully.

Finding the appropriate equipment can be a challenge, so CBBAG wants to give some direction but doesn’t specifically recommend any one vendor over another.

For participants in the Home Study Guided Stream, CBBAG recommends consulting your Mentor before purchasing any equipment.

For Bookbinding II:Option 1: Workmate bench, Backing boards, Brass-edge BoardsOption 2: Lying press, Backing boards, Brass-edge BoardsOption 3: Combination Press (Horton Press)

For Bookbinding III:Any of the options above andLeather Paring KnifeA Surface to Pare on


For Bookbinding II or IIIBacking Hammer / Bookbinding Hammer

A backing or bookbinder’s hammer is used to round the spine of a text block. These hammers are unique in that they have a dome shaped head suited for rounding the spine and a claw end without a notch that is rounded smooth helps shape the ridge and shoulder during the backing process.

A cobbler’s hammer can be used too.

www.talasonline.com www.bookbinding.co.uk (Shepherds)www.hollanders.com www.relma.frwww.universityproducts.com www.hewitonline.com

Lying Press and Alternatives

A lying press or laying press, identifiable by its square-cut wood cheeks and two screws, is a traditional bookbinder’s tool that is used for many purposes in conjuction with its accessories: backing boards, cutting boards, gilding boards, tub, and plough.

www.talasonline.com www.universityproducts.com www.affordablebindingequipment.com Durie Street Bookworks (Toronto) - email [email protected] (British Columbia)

A workmate type of workbench can be used with backing boards or backing irons.

Backing Boards / Backing IronsBacking boards are generally made of a very hard wood and the upper edge of the board is beveled at an angle of approximately 80°, over which the outer sections or leaves on both sides of the text block are bent. The board is also thicker at this edge than at the lower, so that when it is placed on the side of the text block near the spine and secured in a lying press , the force of the press is concentrated nearest the spine.



For Bookbinding II or III

Combination Presses

A particular type of press, either manufactured commercially or homemade, frequently the latter, that serves more than one purpose, e.g., as a lying press that can be turned on its side and used as a nipping press, or a press that serves as a standing press, backing press, or as a press for casing-in, having brass-edged boards built into both cheeks. Some come with typing up boards as an option.

Names of presses in pictures: 1 & 2) Horton Press (which has a 90º brass edged side and 45º brass-edged side so it can be both a lying press and a backing press) , 3) Portable Backing Press, and 4) Double Faced Finishing Press (90º and 45º edge)

www.talasonline.com www.relma.fr www.hollanders.com www.universityproducts.comwww.affordablebindingequipment.com Durie Street Bookworks (Toronto) - email [email protected] (British Columbia)

Brass-edged Boards / Offset Boards / Press boards with brass edgesWooden boards cut square at the edge and lined on one edge with a brass strip that extends beyond one or both sides of the hoard about 1/8 inch. The brass extension creates the joints of the book during the casing-in operation.



For Bookbinding III

Leather Paring KnifeA knife used for paring the edges of leather to be turned over the edges of the boards. The knife has its cutting edge at the end, and is ground flat on the underside and beveled on the upper. There are several varieties of this type of knife: the English paring knife has a flat cutting edge; the French knife is rounded; the German knife, while rounded like the French version, is also ground at an angle.

www.talasonline.com www.bookbinding.co.uk (Shepherds)www.hollanders.com www.relma.frwww.peacheytools.com www.hewitonline.comwww.georgehillco.com

Surfaces to pare onThe traditional surface is a litho / lithography stone because it’s very smooth and heavy so it won’t move about. Printmaking supply stores could have them. Etched patterns won’t make a difference.

Other options are a polished marbled slab like a kitchen countertop or a tempered glass kitchen cutting board. For glass, be sure to get one that is perfectly smooth on one side and without feet as you will be clamping the board to your bench to keep it secure.


Select list of Canadian Vendors of Bookbinding Supplies

Aboveground Art Supplies: Ontario based art suppy store www.abovegroundartsupplies.com

AQRAL - Association québécoise des relieurs et des artisans du livre : They sell used equipment and new materials on their website www.relieursduquebec.ca

ARTiculations Art Supply: Toronto art supply with many decorative papers including St Armand www.articulations.ca

Brodart: Canadian library and archival / conservation supplier www.brodart.ca

Carr McLean: Ontario based library, archive, and conservation supply store www.carrmclean.ca

Delta Art Supplies: Alberta based art and bookbinding supply store www.deltaart.ca

Durie Street Bookworks: Ontario based supplier for bookbinding equipment Email: [email protected]

George Hill & Co: Ontario based bookbinding material supplier www.georgehillco.com

Illtyd Perkins Woodworking: British Columbia based woodworker who specializes in bookbinding equipment www.illtydperkinswoodworking.ca

The Japanese Paper Place: Wholesale importer and distributor of Japanese papers www.japanesepaperplace.com

Lines & Curves :Ontario based art supplier and distributor of University Products in Canada www.linesandcurves.com

Opus Art Supplies: British Columbia based art and bookmaking supply store www.opusartsupplies.com

La paperterie Saint-Gilles: Quebec based Paper store in Quebec www.papeteriesaintgilles.com

The Paper Place: Toronto store that carries Japanese and other decorative papers https://shop.thepaperplace.ca

The Papertrail: Ontario based supplier for Handmade Papers and Book Arts www.papertrail.ca/blog/products/bookbinding-tools/

Robert Wu: Ontario based decorative paper maker (Marbled and Paste) www.studiorobertwu.com

St Armand Paper: Quebec based handmade paper manufacturer www.st-armand.com

Documents

Specialized Equipment Recommendations for Bookbinding II