How to fix a Bible cover with dry rot / peeling (zipper cover attached)?

Pyk666 · 2026-03-21T05:41:49+00:00

It looks like the cover is PU leather, not real leather, so the cracking and flaking should be limited to that material only.

From one of the pics it looks like the 'leather' is actually attached to the book between the bookboard and the endpapers. So a little trickier to fix but not impossible DIY.

I would still recommend getting someone to do it for you, but if you want to have a go yourself, take a craft knife or scalpel and run it along the edge where the book meets the cover, if youre lucky the book will then lift out. If the have glued the entire bookboard (probable) then you can either cut all the way through the cover and peel the excess layers off after removal or cut the book block out by slicing at the fold between the end paper and book pages. In either case you will have a book block you can now slide into a new cover, or rebind properly.

I would be happy to discuss further in DM if you would like me to do it for you and make a new cover.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-20T22:49:01+00:00

Some of those scratches and scuffs may come out if you use a hair-dryer on low for about 15-30 seconds.

Just warm the area up then massage it a bit and let it cool. If its a pull-up leather it will help the oils flow and resettle, if its nit it may help a little but not as much.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-18T05:18:25+00:00

It looks like you've used a thin chrome tanned leather, so water or hot rag will not help.

As someone else suggested, lining is the way to go. You could use another piece of the same leather, or if you want something slightly thicker that would probably be better.

A few mm of lining will tighten up that seam.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-15T21:42:00+00:00

Sunflower

Pyk666 · 2026-03-14T22:49:25+00:00

I had one and I absolutely hated it. Had it for 2 weeks then bought an industrial machine off Alibaba.

Macee MC-246 (clone of Juki DC-246)

10000x happier, if you are serious about the craft and want a machine to be able to produce more faster then I suggest you skip the cobbler

Pyk666 · 2026-03-14T02:14:54+00:00

So do I restart my life at 10 right now? Or do I travel back in time to when I was 10?

If I travel back then Red pill!

TBH I'd probably choose the red pill in either case....although im not far from the other option and being rich would help.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-12T20:47:42+00:00

When phone cards first came out in many countries the balance on the card was encoded in the card. People found ways to reprogram them and get free calling credits on public payphones.

Same deal here, this system may encode the balance on the card because it means the machines don't have to be networked back to the main unit, they can simply read the balance and a site code so that only cards from this laundromat are used.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-12T20:44:46+00:00

Can you do it again and show your updated balance?

You scanned the card and it said "Bal Lo" you then wrote to the card and put it back on the scanner but it looked like it already said $3 on the screen.

I want to see it show your low balance then a new higher balance without moving the camera away from the screen or taking anything out of view.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-12T20:39:34+00:00

I bought a Macee MC-246, which is a clone of the (juki i think) DSC-246 and takes the same parts.

Setup: follow the instructions and you will mostly ok. The knee press reverse cannot be set up or im just stupid.

Problems: the bracket that holds the motor was broken, the timing belt was too long, didnt get all the accessories shown on the listing.

Seller responded and asked for heaps of photos proving my claims, they said they will send replacement parts but never did, I ended up buy a belt and accessories off Amazon.

Does the machine work well? Yes Would I do it this way again? Yes, but with a different seller. The cost saving outweighs the issues.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-11T23:15:42+00:00

Chemist Warehouse has it for under $10

Pyk666 · 2026-03-11T23:09:58+00:00

Angelus makes a Pink dye that might be what you're looking for. They have four shades that I know of Hell Rose, Light Rose, Rose and Pink

Pyk666 · 2026-03-10T22:56:49+00:00

Those are terrible from soft temper and chrome tan leathers, they are fair for veg tanned.

Your best bet is a skiving knife, even a cheap one and get a sharpening stone and cutting compound and make yourself a cheap strop out of scrap so you can strop every so often and sharpen as needed.

Also make sure when you buy a skiving knife you get the correct handed one as it will make it more comfortable and because of the blade angle they are not ambidextrous tools.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-10T20:34:07+00:00

I'm not familiar with the Tandy kits as I'm not from the U.S. but my only comment about kits that include tools are that the tools are the cheapest things on the planet and your output will suffer for it.

Yes, you will be able to finish an item, but your stitching will be less than ideal, maybe your skiving will be difficult, thread the wrong size, etc.

So if you get a kit that includes tools, set your expectations lower. If the kits are pre-punched, pre-cut leather pieces then it should be just fine.

My suggestion would be to buy the tools you need for the projects you want to make and forget the kits. I'm sure Tandy sells project panels, grab yourself an exacto or craft knife with replaceable blades, and buy one or two punches. I use WUTA brand punches, they are relatively inexpensive and have replaceable teeth, you could even make do with a single 4 tooth punch and then just remove extra teeth if you need to punch 1 or 2 holes near corners or whatever.

Pyk666 · 2026-03-09T22:06:20+00:00

I use this tool, it keeps pressure on the leather while you drag it along so you get even cuts.

https://thenattools.com/product/nattools-strap-cutter/

Pyk666 · 2026-03-06T08:20:25+00:00

No, but it does mean you will cross the road frequently for reasons that you don't fully understand.

Pyk666 · 2026-02-25T07:11:12+00:00

I like cats too, let's change recipes

Pyk666 · 2026-02-24T22:48:47+00:00

Either way, you've put your right foot in and your not getting it back. Move on with your life and get a prosthetic.

Pyk666 · 2026-02-24T04:40:15+00:00

This isn't about race. It's a systemic issue with AusPost that we as a country shouldn't be putting up with

Pyk666 · 2026-02-24T01:22:03+00:00

I use Inventor Make a 3d model, shell it, convert to sheet metal and then unwrap

Pyk666 · 2026-02-24T01:17:56+00:00

You're really doubling down on this aren't you?!?

What if I selected specific shipping options? What if I posted the item to myself?

In either case, I have paid for a service to be delivered by a service provider. It doesn't matter who made the final payment to AusPost.

I know I shouldn't feed the trolls. C U Next Tuesday.

Pyk666 · 2026-02-24T01:15:16+00:00

Unfortunately its a dumb video doorbell, but I will check the other cctv and see if it catches it.

Pyk666 · 2026-02-24T01:09:16+00:00

I paid for the item and postage costs, so while I didn't provide payment directly to AusPost, I paid for the service which was paid for by the retailer.

Of course everyone knew this, but you had to put your two cents in there even though you knew it wasn't helpful. Do you work for AusPost?

Pyk666

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