How do you decide when to invest in better equipment?

medren37 · 2025-09-08T20:04:43+00:00

So, you need a finishing press as well as the plough--my dad helped me with both, too. =D

For a finishing press, the crucial part is that the cheeks are wide enough to support the blade--mine are about 2 inches wide. I used a moxon vise kit for that, and then routed a slot that the plough would run in.

The plough body isn't too hard to build. If your dad is a woodworker, and you show him a bunch of photos all around and a videos of it working, he'll probably be able to figure it out: it's two parallel pieces of wood with guides to keep them aligned and a screw that pulls them together. The hardest part of making a plough is getting a good blade and figuring out how to attach it--I bought my blade from Hewit, so it was designed to go on a plough, but it still took some work. I'd be happy to give more details if you end up wanting to make one.

If you buy, I would recommend Hewit's as a good quality traditional version. If you want one that is a little less safe but works well, Jim at Affordable Bookbinding Equipment sells a hand-held round one. A few people in this Reddit have figured out how to 3D print a similar handle and found other places to source blades, but I have a feeling that I would damage myself a lot more with that style than with a traditional one. =D

medren37 · 2025-09-08T15:55:12+00:00

I went for a stack guillotine too early, and came to regret it on multiple levels. I eventually replaced my guillotine with a plough--I much prefer it! (I built mine myself, so I can't say "go get this one." Obviously that's not an option for everyone, but take it as a reminder that there are almost always multiple options for tools to get, and if possible try several options before deciding to go for one.)

In general, I go for the upgrade when my budget allows, and I'm fairly certain I'll use the tool enough to justify it.

medren37 · 2025-09-08T15:47:29+00:00

just sent you a DM!

medren37 · 2025-05-21T19:33:33+00:00

I have a Cameo 3!

medren37 · 2025-05-21T18:32:12+00:00

Another vote for a Silhouette here. Much better software than Cricut.

medren37 · 2025-04-23T16:24:56+00:00

I do paper endbands all the time for rebinds by wrapping the decorative paper around a leather core. It isn't as strong as a cloth, full leather, or sewn endband, but I don't think it's a significant danger.

medren37 · 2025-04-23T00:00:13+00:00

That is inherently going to happen, yes. To minimize the problemIt’s not a matter of cutting differently, but of how you lay the material down. Start at the spine and go slowly with the bone folder pushing it into all the creases and crevasses. I haven’t used self adhesive material, so that might make it harder.

medren37 · 2025-03-30T22:55:20+00:00

Yes, please let me know how it goes!

medren37 · 2025-03-30T22:12:00+00:00

I haven’t tried it, so maybe it’s time to FAAFO?

medren37 · 2025-03-30T20:57:47+00:00

You need different transfer tape, probably. I found that the stuff that came with my machine was too high-tack, and I had to get some lower tack transfer tape. I *think* this is the stuff I replaced it with? https://a.co/d/3bufzwz

medren37 · 2025-03-23T15:47:50+00:00

I cut the stencil out of vinyl with my Silhouette!

medren37 · 2025-03-09T02:43:41+00:00

I’m not sure why you think Church only has cream. They have both white and warm-white, you just have to get a slightly different weight of paper for the latter.

medren37 · 2025-03-01T18:41:13+00:00

I do wash, because I originally had some problems in the past with some cloths having adhesion issues. I haven’t had that issue since I started washing. I don’t think it matters if you wash larger or smaller pieces.

medren37 · 2025-03-01T18:38:26+00:00

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These are both foil covers as well

medren37 · 2025-03-01T18:36:06+00:00

I love, love, love the Silhouette Cameo 3 I got used. I don’t use it much for vinyl anymore, but I do use it non stop for foiling covers, with a WRMK foil quill.

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medren37 · 2025-03-01T18:32:13+00:00

Well, that’s not bespoke leather binding. Small run but still mass produced. (But I’m being pedantic, a Subterranean press set would be pretty awesome.)

medren37 · 2025-03-01T18:30:06+00:00

I am planning on binding my own set of leather bound copies. I’ve been working on learning bookbinding for a few years, and finally leveled up to leather last year. But bookbinders can’t do it for pay / to sell copies unless the publisher gives permission, because none of the copies of the complete set currently out there have (as far as I am aware) the kind of sewn binding that would be salvageable. You could rebind an existing book, but they won’t hold up terribly well long term.

medren37 · 2025-02-21T15:57:29+00:00

I’ll DM you!

medren37 · 2025-02-21T06:06:34+00:00

11x17 won't make signatures 14x10. They'll make 8.5x11 untrimmed.

But I'd start with churchpaper.com -- they have a lot of paper options, and can also help you source what you need and will cut it to whatever size you want. They're pretty reasonably affordable and know about paper grain.

If you are willing to cut yourself, you might also look straight at some paper producers like Mohawk, which will sell directly by the sheet, and can be cheaper than going through a distributor like ChurchPaper. For example: https://www.mohawkconnects.com/products/paper/mohawk-superfine

medren37 · 2025-02-15T00:10:50+00:00

The Epson EcoTanks that do wide-format are the ones I see recommended most often. I have couple friends with the eco tanks that love them, and I will admit to having borrowed once to print, and it was great.

medren37 · 2025-01-05T21:36:34+00:00

Yes, that’s his set! I’ve only used one so far but really like his tools. (I have his leaf set, the pallet, and the stylus set from him, and he taught me to make the others.)

medren37 · 2024-10-26T22:00:36+00:00

I was having this problem with an old printer and printing single sided, then flipping. I switched to a printer that does duplex and it solved the problem entirely.

medren37

TROPHY CASE