Remember when we used to measure everything with just a ruler?

I started binding books in the late 90s and back then I used a basic metal ruler and a sharp knife for trimming pages. No presses, no clamps, just my hands and a steady table. About 5 years ago I finally bought a DIY board shear from a guy in Ohio for $200 and it changed everything. Now I can cut 20 text blocks in the time it used to take me to do one by hand. The edges are way cleaner too, no more jagged lines or ruined covers. Anyone else struggle with switching from hand tools to machines?

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2 Comments

gavins435mo ago

Got a low cost book press from a library sale that made my hand trimming ten times cleaner.

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paulhernandez5mo ago

@gavins43 careful calling that little press "low cost" some of us paid real money for ours!

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