Used to think rebinding was just for fancy rare books

Spent 2 years avoiding it after a failed attempt with a copy of Dune, but last week I did a simple paperback to hardcover conversion and actually used it. Has anyone else found a surprisingly easy entry point into this craft?

2 comments

2 Comments

lilyfisher4d ago

So we're really gatekeeping bookbinding now? It's just glue and paper.

fiona_webb3d ago

Honestly, I get where you're coming from @lilyfisher but it's way more than just glue and paper. I actually read this article from a bookbinding blog last week that broke down how different spine linings and paper grain direction can make or break a book that's supposed to last more than a few flips. It's like saying cooking is just mixing ingredients together, yeah technically true but there's a whole lot of skill and knowledge that separates a mess from something solid. Ngl, I think a lot of the "gatekeeping" complaints come from people who've never actually tried to make a book that holds up, not just looks pretty on the outside. There's a whole community of folks sharing tips and tricks for free, so calling it gatekeeping feels a bit harsh when the info is out there if you look.