Category: Uncategorized

I recently made a video on restoring a Dryad Junior book plough.  It’s a funny device designed to be used on a Dryad finishing press with legs.  It could be used on other presses also.   Dryad Junior Book Plough Rescue I also have a video on cutting the edge of a book in a press using a… Continue reading Dryad Junior Book Plough →

I’ll be teaching a rounded and backed case binding course with Queensland Bookbinders’ Guild on the 5th and 6th December in Brisbane. It is for members of QBG, but membership has many benefits and it is still one of the cheapest in-person bookbinding courses you will ever see. Search Queensland Bookbinders’ Guild and go to… Continue reading Case Binding Course →

One of my bookbinding heroes, William Mathews, told Enid Batham about his future books in response to the price of gold going up, “I’m not going to wipe off any gold, they’re all going to be smothered in gold”.  Gold finishing has long been associated with the finest bookbinding.  But covering things with thinly beaten… Continue reading Bath Brick and Gold Cushions →

In these difficult times it’s important we support the suppliers of materials and tools to the bookbinding craft.  Below is a list of suppliers I either use, or I know to have a very good reputation, and one day I hope to buy from.  The main retailers that I buy from are Hewits, Talas and… Continue reading Bookbinding Suppliers →

A4 Visitors Book Print to A3 paper, flip on short edge. Title pageOne blank pageAll pages the same

A Guide to the DAS Bookbinding YouTube Channel  Contents Getting Started Simple Projects Headbands Decorative Paper & Cloth Bradel Bindings Springback Bindings Leather Bindings Medieval Books Cloth Case Bindings Library (Split Board) Style Bindings Enclosures Endpapers Textblock Sewing Edge Decoration Materials Adhesives Tools & Equipment Sharpening Getting Started Books about Bookbinding Tools for the Beginner… Continue reading YouTube Channel →

I've just finished a prototype of a mini springback binding. At 3 3/4 inches tall, it's too large to be a miniature book. It is the first small binding of a traditional structure that I have made. Single section pamphlets don't count. In general I like to go big rather than small. But after the… Continue reading Mini Springback →

I finished the 3 part tutorial on binding a full cloth springback notebook this week.  I can’t remember seeing anything like this on the internet before.  Springbacks are traditionally large books and I made some modifications to scale down the size.  I have also only used book cloth so that leather skills (or availability) is… Continue reading Cloth Springback Notebook →

I’ve been doing a lot of work on springback bindings in the last few months.  I hope to make some videos on complete projects soon.  Before I video full projects, I will do videos on some of the components that are different to letterpress binding.  The first of these, which I posted this week, is… Continue reading Springback Binding Endpapers →

Bookbinders use unbleached linen thread almost exclusively for sewing sections.  Of course, there is nothing stopping you using whatever you want.  However, natural flax spun to make linen is recognized for its strength and longevity.  In the early 20th century a few authors, such as Douglas Cockerell and Edith Diehl, recommend ligature silk as used… Continue reading Needle and Thread →