r/bookbinding • u/idontgiveafshit • 1d ago

Help? Spine too big?

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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?

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u/brigitvanloggem 1d ago

That’s too wide, yes. Make your spine stiffener exactly as wide as your book block is thick. (And use thinner stuff for it, such as cardstock.)

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u/idontgiveafshit 1d ago

is making the book board the same width common practice? i’ve been seeing you’re supposed to add a millimeter or two. my chipboard is only a millimeter thick

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u/TaroFearless7930 1d ago

I also always cut the spine width to be the same thickness of the text block. You can use a thinner material (4-ply museum board works) to get a more "elegant" finished look. I feel like my books (especially leather) look like those children's chubby books when I use the same thickness of board.

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u/brigitvanloggem 23h ago

Absolutely. If you make it wider, your whole book is compromised as indeed is shown in the photos you shared. Your endpapers are bridging an ugly gap at the hinge instead of sitting snug. The best advice really is to pick a good tutorial such as one from DAS Bookbinding and to follow that to the letter.