Shoutout to the guy at the Seattle print shop who showed me how to press endpapers flat

I was struggling with endpapers bubbling up on me during casing in. This older fella at a local print shop said I should try misting them with water before pressing, let them sit under weight for 10 minutes. He said the paper fibers relax and settle different when they get a little damp. Has anyone else tried wetting their endpapers before gluing? I want to know if it messes with the grain direction.

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_chen811d agoMost Upvoted

Hang on, misting them with water before gluing? That sounds like a fast track to warped boards and wavy pages if you ask me. I'd be scared the moisture would make the paper expand unevenly and throw off the whole grain direction thing. Have you seen any long-term issues with paper cockling after using this trick?

charles83621h ago

Whoa wait, misting them with water first?! That just sounds like a recipe for disaster honestly. I've seen what a little humidity does to paper in a basement, I can't imagine spritzing it on purpose before gluing. My gut says you'd end up with wavy, lumpy boards and a book that won't close right. Seems like the grain would soak it up and throw everything out of whack. I'd be too nervous to even try it without seeing some proof it works long term.

abbyp6123h ago

Mist them with water?! Dude that sounds terrifying, like asking for trouble with paper expansion and all that. I've seen what a single drop of water does to paper grain, I can't imagine intentionally soaking them before gluing lol. Gotta wonder if this old timer is just messing with new folks or if he's actually onto something weird.