Binding Books
Book binding is a process where adhesives and sheets of paper are used to assemble books. There are now several modern techniques of binding books which produce hardbound or hard cover, soft cover or paperback, cardboard article, comb-bound, sewn, velo bound, library bound, and thermal bound books. Stitched along its spine, a hard cover is known to have a rigid cover and visible binding threads when opened at the middle. Most heavy books or those which are unusually large are bound with the use of a cable or a wire.
Paperback books consist of several sheets, which are glued together in their spines and are covered with heavier cover papers. These are much cheaper than hard bound ones because they come in smaller sizes and wear out easily over time. Cardboard article books are those which are often mistaken as hard covers. These are, in fact, *paperback books bound using hard covers. Comb-bound books are known for their easy disassembling and reassembling features through the plastic combs found in their slits that hold the leaves intact.
Sewn books are bound through a similar technique used for hard covers. The only difference is that their covers are not made of heavier paper. Velo bound books come in separate sheets, which have holes near their bound edges. Velo binding is more durable than comb-binding because it provides longer lasting results. This binding technique is popularly used for publications in legal and business presentations. Library binding is particularly use in binding paper back books and serials found in libraries. Most libraries use this technique to make their reading materials last longer. Thermal bound books have separate sheets that are glued to their covers with heat-activated adhesives.
Book binding may also include techniques used in binding magazines, which are coil binding or spiral binding, perfect binding, and stapling. Magazines are often times less durable than books and these are commonly made of cover papers. Coil binding or spiral binding is a technique common among atlases, magazines, and books, which may be opened back on themselves without breaking their spines. This technique involves punching holes onto the books' spines and inserting wire helixes into them. These wire helixes serve as the spines' hinges for flexible opening. A magazine can also be bound using a perfect binding technique, which is frequently used in paperback books. Stapling, also known as saddle-stitching, involves joining folios into one magazine issue. This technique is normally used in comic books.
Hand Book Binding
For Master Book Binder Terry Buckler, book binding can be compared to a building's foundations because it's what keeps the book together. He has been teaching book binding at the London College of Printing for some time now and he has several lessons that focus on the techniques of book binding. He shares with his students the proper way of locking thread on a needle without having to tie a knot and looking for the paper grain's direction.
Hand book binders make use of special hand tools such as brass tools for finishing, bonefolders, knives, and hammers. Several materials are used for book covers and these include decorative paper, cloth, and leather. Hand book binding is still very much alive in the publishing industry because of apprenticeships and schools offering lessons about the trade.