Tried a weird trick to fix a stubborn spine and it actually worked

I was working on a leather rebind of a thick old dictionary, and the spine just would not set flat after rounding and backing. My usual method with the nipping press wasn't cutting it. Out of pure frustration, I grabbed a cheap hair straightener from my bathroom, set it on low heat, and gently ran it over the spine area for a few seconds. The heat softened the glue just enough for me to press it into shape with my hands, and it held perfectly after it cooled. Has anyone else used a non-traditional heat source like this for a quick fix?

3 comments

3 Comments

thea6021d ago

Totally get that. Had a similar panic with a cookbook repair. My bone folder just wasn't doing it. Ended up using the flat side of my clothes iron on the steam setting, held it about an inch above the spine. The gentle heat and a bit of moisture loosened everything right up. Let it cool under a weight and it was perfect. Sometimes you just gotta use what's in the house.

stellat461d ago

Saw a buddy try that with a heat gun on a paperback, ended up warping the cover.

matthewmiller1d ago

Are you trying to ruin your books? That's a great way to wreck the leather and make the glue brittle over time. A hair straightener is way too direct and you can't control the temp. You'll cook the material. My friend tried a heat gun on a low setting for a second and it melted the endpapers. Just wait for the proper tools instead of risking it.