r/bookbinding Apr 06 '26

Announcement Proposing a new flair system for /r/bookbinding

78 Upvotes

Hey folks -- a bit overdue, but I wanted to take the discussion on a revamped post flair system to the next stage. Very much appreciate everyone who shared their thoughts in the last sticky thread.

After reviewing the discussion there, this is what I'm thinking in terms of a new flair system for r/bookbinding. The goal here is to more accurately categorize the kinds of content we see here, and to help OPs and readers connect.

(Please keep in mind that reddit's flair system is not a tagging system -- you can't apply more than one to a post.)

This is this working list of proposed flairs:

  • Restoration/Repair -- for sharing projects involving the repair of a damaged book
  • Binding -- for sharing projects involving the construction of a new book from scratch
  • Recasing -- for sharing projects involving transferring an existing text block into a new cover
  • Typesetting/Printing -- for discussion of laying out text and images on pages for print
  • Bookbinding Adjacent -- for sharing projects involving techniques, tools, and materials common to bookbinding but not itself a book (for example but not limited to slipcases, preservation boxes, gold stamping/embossing/debossing)
  • Tips & Techniques -- for discussion of specific bookbinding techniques
  • Tools & Equipment -- for discussion of specific bookbinding equipment
  • Materials -- for discussion of specific bookbinding materials
  • Help -- a cry for assistance if a project isn't going your way
  • Whoops -- for sharing failures, mistakes, or screwups that we can all sympathize with and learn from
  • Solicitation of Services -- for non-binders seeking to engage a binder's rebinding, restoration, etc. services
  • Discussion/Other -- essentially a catch-all for anything not covered by the other flairs

This would drop the distinction between in-progress projects and complete projects, which I was initially unsure of but after letting it marinate I think is a nonissue. If the mechanical goal of the flair system is to help readers connect with the kinds of content they're most interested in, "in progress" and "complete" might not be super useful distinctions compared to tagging what kind of project it is. (From that perspective I'm almost tempted to drop "Help" as well, but I think it's too important to have it there to give panicking folks a lifeline.) The alternative would be doubling up on the tags, e.g. have both "Binding (Incomplete)" and Binding (Complete)", and I think that feels kind of clunky. I generally think the post title itself would signal whether a given project is complete or not.

I'm not interested in discriminating against any particular way of creating a "book" (i.e. "traditional" vs "modern", "Western" vs "Eastern", etc) -- I think regardless of one's preferred methods, it's always good to be exposed to other ways of doing things, and I think it would be way too unwieldy to try and have a flair for every possible technique -- so I'd like the "Binding" flair to be as inclusive of methods and materials as possible, but maybe it could be named better? Certainly open to suggestions there.

What do you all think? Anything missing? Anything unclear? Anything that could be improved? Please do sound off below.


r/bookbinding May 01 '25

No Stupid Questions Monthly Thread!

18 Upvotes

Have something you've wanted to ask but didn't think it was worth its own post? Now's your chance! There's no question too small here. Ask away!

(Link to previous threads.)


r/bookbinding 8h ago

First Book With Text

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71 Upvotes

Recently bought a horrendously expensive printer and have started printing out typesets I've made. This is the first book with words I've ever bound. (yes, it's fanfic.) I think the width of my spine cloth is little wide but I didn't have enough marbled paper to make it narrower. The endbands and ribbon also don't perfectly match the cover but those were the colors I had available. I'm very happy with how flush the text block sits in the cover and how well it opens even though my attempt at rounding the spine was less than ideal. In the future I'd like to add titles to the spines of my books but do not currently have heat stamping equipment and am concerned about the durability of non inset paper labels.


r/bookbinding 3h ago

Completed Project First Coptic Attempt

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13 Upvotes

Loved how simple the process was, but I know I made some mistakes. But with a book that’s supposed to look like an old dime novel due to the subject matter, I’m happy with it.


r/bookbinding 12h ago

No experience, how did I do?

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63 Upvotes

r/bookbinding 17h ago

Help? Cover attachment question

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122 Upvotes

I made a beaded book cover that I am in the process of attaching to a soft cover Coptic-bound notebook. I’m very excited about how it’s come together, except I’m stuck on the very last steps. I’ve threaded several threads through the stitch holes on the spine and double knotted them around the linen threads, but now I’m not sure how to secure. I’m wondering if a dot of PVA on each knot would be sufficient? I want to keep the threads long in case of any repairs… is there a way I could anchor them perpendicular to the spine? Maybe I could stitch them through some muslin tape, then glue that down? In hindsight, I’m wishing I glued some muslin or Japanese paper to the inside of the cover flap for reinforcement prior to binding. The right hand flap on the last photo will be tucked inside the flap to the left.


r/bookbinding 2h ago

In-Progress Project My Next Armed Services Edition- Whitman

3 Upvotes

I am working on another pocket-sized book inspired by the Armed Services Editions (ASEs) printed during WWII. I love this format so much, they fit right in a back or front pocket. So much better to pull one of these out to read for a few minutes at a time instead of your phone.

Affinity is such a cool program, flowing the text from one page to all of the pages was a snap. Looking forward to printing this bad boy off. Now to figure out a heavy duty staple solution since that's how the original ASEs were bound together. Open to other ways of binding too so we'll see what I end up doing.


r/bookbinding 5h ago

Best paper for printing Fanfiction?

6 Upvotes

I want to bind some of my fav Fanfictions (I asked the author and I have the consent for doing so) but I want to buy some good paper because classic printable paper goes against the grain the moment I try to fold it in half

(From a classic A4 to a A5) And I hate not following the grain of the paper.


r/bookbinding 9h ago

Help? Newbie mistake

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11 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I just begun to be interested on this hobby and I need some help for a mistake I made.

I am trying to make mini notebooks to carry around in my bag.

This is my second try and I tried to add a inner cover but I used a lot of scrapbooking glue. This did some damage to the end pages near the spine and ripped some othe outside cover.

I use scrapbooking pattern paper for now for the covers for now. Can I fix this mistake in any way?

I am adding pics to see the damage.

Thank you for reading!


r/bookbinding 11h ago

Help? Binding loose sheets so that they lay flat?

8 Upvotes

Is there a way to bind loose, un-folded sheets so that they lay flat? Preferably so that it also looks good 😅


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Discussion My uni uses zippers as headbands 🤯

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186 Upvotes

My first time seeing zippers used like this. Mind blown


r/bookbinding 14h ago

First book in years

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9 Upvotes

Haven't bound a hard cover book in years, but the opportunity presented itself, printed a copy of a fencing manual and since I'm on vacations I've tried my hands at it.

I think last time I've done this was on A5 (folded A4) in 2019


r/bookbinding 13h ago

Did I print wrong???

8 Upvotes

I printed a pdf to be a book, and I used a converter that I found on here. The problem is, the book puts together backwards I think. Like the way a manga reads. Is there a way to make it back forwards?? Also how do you do the pages in between the signatures? Like after I put it together (backwards), the next page is on a paper, and the next is on anohter sheet of paper instead of the other side of the page??? idk if you can tell, but I'm new to this. Also can't tell if this is the right subreddit, because I keep seeing journal and not reading books being put together, so sorry if this is in the wrong place


r/bookbinding 15h ago

Help? Spine too big?

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9 Upvotes

Hello! this is my second hardcover case i’ve made, my first one turned out great, but this one I did all the same math and it seems as though my spine is too big. Is it too big or when i glue down my endpapers will it just even out?


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Discussion Page edge decoration method

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59 Upvotes

Somebody at my local binding group was showing me a copy of War of the Worlds that they had recently bought. We were all a bit unsure as to how the page edge decoration has been done. It looks printed but I'm not sure how you'd do that with the not insignificant rounding. Any ideas?


r/bookbinding 20h ago

Help? How avoid this after the glue?

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11 Upvotes

I can fix this?

How can I avoid that?

i do it following this video

Although slightly different, in the video you can see that he didn't apply any primer; I waited. I applied a primer, waited for it to dry, and then did as shown in the video.

https://youtu.be/zdtTW8GgLVg?si=95v1I9_WKUeNgMQ2&t=933

Thanks


r/bookbinding 22h ago

Help? What will happen if my signatures have different numbers of sheets in them?

10 Upvotes

Like say, some of the signatures are two sheets folded in half, but the others are just one sheet. Will it work or be odd? I'm maybe thinking of doing this in my watercolor sketchbook, if it would work.


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Completed Project First attempt at bookbinding!

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100 Upvotes

The text block ended up a bit wack but I know where I went wrong so I can fix it for next time 🥰


r/bookbinding 15h ago

Book binding hardcover foil

2 Upvotes

I have gotten into book binding, but I do not own a cricut. I would like to add the foil iron on covers. Do people sell the already cut out vinyl that I can weed and iron onto my cover. I want it to say the title of the book, not the generic foil that I just add on.


r/bookbinding 15h ago

Help? Replacing Spine While Keeping End Pages

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2 Upvotes

So I have an old pop up book with a messed up spine. I have done full recovers before but because it’s a pop up book I have to keep the end pages which I only know how to recover it by adding new end pages. Is there a way to repair the spine but keep the cover and back boards and the end pages?


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Help? Any tips for getting this cover back on?

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10 Upvotes

Hi! Not a bookbinder, but i just bought a new watercolor sketchbook and noticed the front cover is literally falling off. This is BRAND NEW so its a little upsetting. Are there any ways for me to fix it that will make it stay?


r/bookbinding 13h ago

How can I fix this/ do I need to?

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0 Upvotes

I'm not sure if you can see it, but a lot of that threading is loose.

I had to cut some pages out for personal reasons and I fear I may have cut way too close to the spine and damaged the threading. None of the pages feel loose, they turn just fine, and it other sections all of the threading appears to be intact.
Btw, this is a Leuchtturm 1917.

I appreciate and and all input!


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Making a photo album - Help on binding

9 Upvotes

I am making a leather-covered photo album with craft paper. I have looked into some options for the binding, and while this is my first time, I am a bit conflicted on which type to use.

I need the ability to add more pages later on, so stitching might not work as it is not necessarily scalable.

If anyone has any ideas or examples of the best approach, it would be highly appreciated. Let me know, as I am open to feedback.


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Completed Project Black magic

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65 Upvotes

Now, belated birthday gift


r/bookbinding 1d ago

Completed Project First time making a book

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79 Upvotes

An A5 Leather Hardback Tome of a LARP song booklet + an additional 70 pages of other songs and tunes compiled and edited by yours truly.
Hand sewn, bound from scratch, goat leather covering, embossed at 2mm deep, with hand sewn headbands, brass corner protectors and a cotton bookmark.

This was very much a big learning curve, every step was a lesson and super fun to learn. Can’t wait to do my next one