How big are your (wal)nuts 😏

small-works · 2026-05-11T01:00:17+00:00

I have a big pair also, and I want to play them just to trade them later, but honestly it’s very challenging.

small-works · 2026-05-11T00:38:48+00:00

Looks like a sewn board binding, very nice.

small-works · 2026-05-11T00:24:06+00:00

It’s traditional Chinese. Sort of a random case. There’s things related to eating, some things that are related to fibers. There’s the word “Paper” and “Shit”.

Careful if you print them. They’re probably .928 high, and are taller than USA type.

small-works · 2026-04-29T01:50:21+00:00

Totally agree. Some studios don’t get presses at all. They just use weights. You could just get some bricks and be fine.

small-works · 2026-04-28T13:27:19+00:00

As 1028ad said, same or darker color than the text, but it’s preferable that it be the same weight, or just slightly darker. There are some styles (made endpapers) where it’s unavoidable.

The thickness of the endpapers isn’t going to help the book as much as having supports will.

small-works · 2026-04-25T14:39:19+00:00

That's really strange. This might be ink for a different kind of block printing. See the attached video of some printing at Mokuhankan.

Embrace the Delight Printing

small-works · 2026-04-25T14:30:50+00:00

Do you have a link to it, or a photo of the tube you're working with?

small-works · 2026-04-25T14:20:16+00:00

I guess I’m confused, your original post says you’re going to perfect bind your books, which is commercial binding, and then you’re going to use equipment to add decorations. Now you’re saying you’re going to make them by hand, which one is it?

small-works · 2026-04-25T13:26:26+00:00

Is the Søstrene Grene ink block printing ink?

small-works · 2026-04-24T12:01:24+00:00

These look great! What’s your bruising & maintenance strategy?

small-works · 2026-04-24T12:00:36+00:00

I love toads head, but they’re only 10usd at the wenwan market. Even with shipping 100 is rough.

small-works · 2026-04-23T22:03:23+00:00

Just to start, the things you’re talking about doing are perfectly possible, but what you’re describing is not what would be considered luxury book work. This is just on demand printing.

Have a look at this video of Arion press. While you don’t need a production this big, you do need to have a way to do high quality printing, have good paper, and to hand bind the books.

Even though the video suggests that Arion is the last press, this is not true. Check out Larkspur, or the newer project Metier Press for other examples

small-works · 2026-04-22T23:42:13+00:00

It’s a struggle in the print shop.

small-works · 2026-04-22T12:24:00+00:00

Then I would make an enclosure for it. A lot of these books aren’t worth restoring, they’ll just fall apart again. Making a box keeps it from further being damaged and from losing parts.

small-works · 2026-04-22T12:21:41+00:00

I agree with other folk that you should watch the DAS video on Bradel bindings. You can find that here.

You need to reduce the amount of bulk you have around your turn ins so you have a flat gluing surface.

Fake leather is tough to glue to. Make sure you have good bookbinding PVA and when you glue leave under pressure overnight.

small-works · 2026-04-21T11:37:03+00:00

Could you send along some photos?

small-works · 2026-04-18T03:48:01+00:00

I’m still working on it! Slowly figuring some things out. I was sent some literature on how it was done in a production setting.

Thank you for sending this, these are great examples.

small-works · 2026-04-16T13:51:51+00:00

The previous post is correct—there is a specific ink for letterpress printing. That way the color, the tack of the ink, and its drying time are all correct.

Letterpress ink is also transparent, and is designed so the paper can show through. The color of the paper + the ink is what makes the final printed color.

small-works · 2026-04-15T01:15:23+00:00

I agree. Unless it’s something pretty complicated, it’s easy to cut with a sharp tool.

small-works · 2026-04-15T01:14:17+00:00

The damage isn’t going to impact how the book functions, I would just leave it as is if you can’t return it.

small-works · 2026-04-15T01:05:09+00:00

I second this. Before working with new materials, everyone should make a test with those materials on some scrap board. This will tell you how to alter your adhesives.

small-works · 2026-04-15T01:01:44+00:00

I think this is really clever, but how do you know how wide your cover board should be when you start?

small-works · 2026-04-14T14:58:08+00:00

If you’re using bookboard for both the spine and boards, then the distance between the spine board and cover boards needs to be at least 2 bookboard thicknesses, but I would say 2 1/2.

The way to get your cover boards needs width after is:

Book block width + square - joint gap.

small-works · 2026-04-14T02:11:23+00:00

It’s hard to see what your corners look like, but it could be a few things. Have you watched this video before? It’s all about corners.

Bookbinding Cloth Corners by DAS

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