Finally got my head around rounding spines after a year of lumpy backs

I used to just eyeball it with a hammer, but my mentor in Austin showed me how to use a proper rounding jack last month. Anyone have a favorite method for getting that perfect curve?

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3 Comments

miller.avery6mo ago

Rounding spines with a hammer is a good way to ruin a book. That's how you crack the glue and break signatures. The jack is the right tool, but the curve comes from the backing itself, not just the jack. You have to get the swell right first with your hammer work on the spine, then round it. Skipping that step gives you a weak shape.

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the_ruby6mo ago

The hammer's for backing, not rounding.

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the_alex6mo ago

Yeah, that part about cracking the glue really hits home. I messed up a whole batch of notebooks last fall trying to rush the rounding before dealing with the swell. The spines looked okay for a day, then just sagged open. Felt like such a waste of good paper. Getting that foundation right first makes all the difference.

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