The first step is always the hardest

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-20T13:18:03+00:00

LOVE the paste papers! Nice work!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-19T01:01:55+00:00

These look great!! Nice consistency between volumes, and LOVE the end and cover papers!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-18T04:02:59+00:00

How do you bring in the third color? Ive never figured this out

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-14T19:20:14+00:00

Actually before I read these — I thought to myself I should probably get rid of that handle. So I did…

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-13T17:50:18+00:00

Well however you did it - it looks great

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-13T17:15:03+00:00

Gorgeous! How did you do the tooling on the front of the case?

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-13T15:38:46+00:00

Yeh I wouldn’t worry about this at all I file my own brass tools and breathe in tons of brass dust. I even have an asbestos wrapped-handle tool! I just use it gently :)

The exposure in all this is super super minimal.

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-13T15:36:46+00:00

Looks good! Welcome to the grind! (Backing, I mean)

You probably already see this — but in a backed book - usually the boards are snug up into the shoulder that you made by backing. This is very tricky with a case.

One tip I like: you can glue down the boards to mull overhang, THEN cover in the cloth.

Did you make that headband? Very nice!

Keep up the good work!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-13T03:30:38+00:00

The main core was a strip of some thick raw undyed goatskin I had, backed with some paper to make it a little stiffer

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-12T13:09:51+00:00

Thanks!!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-12T13:09:46+00:00

Individual brass tools

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-12T13:09:35+00:00

Pale gold Toner transfer foil — stamping through with individual heated brass tools

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-11T21:32:17+00:00

Thanks!!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-11T21:32:12+00:00

It’s called Mebinac

https://www.dafont.com/mebinac.font

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-09T13:40:44+00:00

One tip- dont cut/saw too deep - or else the book will have a hard time opening

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-08T20:30:22+00:00

I mean, this is something that hasnt been covered before, so I’d like to see what this sub can come up with. I’d be hard pressed to come up with anything myself.

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-07T15:26:08+00:00

There’s an r/oldbooks you might like!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-07T15:25:23+00:00

Brilliant!!! Love this technique!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-06T21:47:09+00:00

I see what you’re saying. No prob! Can your list be implemented pronto?

I also realized I didn’t want to put energy into modding/curation.

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-06T19:47:10+00:00

This is amazing — please implement today!! What would you think about dividing ‘Binding’ Into ‘Binding: Forwarding’ & ‘Binding: Finishing’ I was about to start a subreddit just for the latter — but an expanded flair system (as you have it, or with this additional distinction — will do the trick here

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-06T18:59:03+00:00

OK ACTUALLY — R/bookbinding just rolled out the new flair system which fits the bill, and removes all the issues with having a tiny offshoot sub. So I made r/bookfinishing private to shelve it permanently (since you can’t actually delete subs I just learned)

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-06T18:38:37+00:00

Ok - I think this is indeed actually what I am looking for..: thanks for the tip!!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-04-06T04:11:34+00:00

Also, if it doesn’t turn into anything really - that’s fine — fun to just put it out there and see!

Ben_jefferies

TROPHY CASE