Repairing Guides

how to repair a paperback book cover

by Murl Goodwin Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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To Repair a Broken Cover

  • Brace the book with weights so that the spine is horizontal to the table. (You want to be able to work on the length of the spine.)
  • Cut a piece of tape the length of the book.
  • Center your tape on the spine if your book and gently wrap it over the spine.
  • For additional support, follow the above instructions for repairing a sagging book block above.

Extend the life of a paperback book by making simple repairs with glue and tape.
  1. Repair paper tears with clear document-repair tape. ...
  2. Reattach pages that have separated from the inner spine. ...
  3. Mend tears in the book cover with linen book-binding tape. ...
  4. Reattach the cover if it has separated from the spine.

Full Answer

How to clean and preserve paperback books?

Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Books

  1. Wash and dry your hands before handling books. The number one enemy of books? ...
  2. Dust rooms with books regularly. Books need to be cleaned regularly to keep dust from accumulating on them.
  3. Wipe books down with a clean magnetic or lint-free cloth. ...
  4. Start cleaning from the "head" to the "tail" of the book. ...
  5. Use a small hand-vac in the hinges. ...

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How do you properly open a paperback book?

  • Stand the book on a flat surface on its spine.
  • Holding the book vertical, open the front cover a full 90 degrees and press your fingertips along the crease the length of the page.
  • Keeping the front cover open, now open the back cover a full 90 degrees and press your fingertips along the crease the length of the page.

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How can I maintain my paperback book?

Strategies For How to Protect Your Books

  • Set The Book Aside For Meal Time. ...
  • Pay Attention to Humidity. ...
  • Keep Plastic Bags Handy for Books During Travel. ...
  • Carry Sticky Flags and Bookmarks If You are Prone to Dog-Earing. ...
  • Invest in a Caddy if You are a Bath or Pool-Float Reader. ...
  • Keep an Eye On Those Spines. ...

How do I get rid of paperback books?

How do you get rid of old paperback books? Ans: You can recycle paperback books just like any other paper products: recycle, sell, or donate. You can place your paperback books in the “Mixed Paper” bin at your local recycling center, and there are numerous organizations that will accept your books.

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How do you fix a paperback book cover?

0:332:22How to Fix Paperback Covers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace wax paper inside the front and back covers. Then use the paste brush to apply adhesive to theMorePlace wax paper inside the front and back covers. Then use the paste brush to apply adhesive to the spine of the book and replace the signatures. Wrap the book with an age band.

How do you fix a broken book cover?

0:052:17Reattaching a Torn-Off Cover - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou should repair the book with double stitched binder tape. You will need demco nor bond adhesive aMoreYou should repair the book with double stitched binder tape. You will need demco nor bond adhesive a paste brush waxed paper double stitched binder tape scissors a bone folder cheesecloth.

How do you fix a book cover that is peeling?

0:192:14How to fix plastic cover of books when pealing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat you can do is you can put an old towel on top of your iron i put it like this with a littleMoreWhat you can do is you can put an old towel on top of your iron i put it like this with a little hair clip. So if you don't do this your book is gonna get actually worse than how it is now.

How do you fix a soft book cover?

How to Fix Book Binding: Loose Pages EditionGet the Right Products. ... Set the Loose Pages Aside. ... Apply Your Glue. ... Stick Your Pages Back on the Spine. ... Add Some Heavy Stuff and Let the Book Dry. ... Gather Supplies. ... Cut Your Binder Tape. ... Brush One Side of the Tape with Adhesive and Attach the Tape to the Text Block.More items...•

How do you restore old book covers?

5:347:42How 100-Year-Old Books Are Professionally Restored | RefurbishedYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to be gluing all of those materials you're going to glue that mull and that littleMoreYou're going to be gluing all of those materials you're going to glue that mull and that little hinge and you're gluing that decorative end sheet back and then you're going to close the cover.

How do you glue a book cover?

0:199:59Tutorial on attaching paper to a book cover using a wet glue mediumYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith you know putting decoupage on or you can use gel medium or you can use Mod Podge. WhateverMoreWith you know putting decoupage on or you can use gel medium or you can use Mod Podge. Whatever liquid glue works for you so what I use is uh. This from artist mine from Michaels.

What is the plastic covering on a book called?

For most people, "cover" will mean the same thing as dust jacket. I think what you're describing is clear plastic shrinkwrap.

What is book binding glue?

4:1416:28My Top Bookbinding Glue Recommendations & Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut it's in a different line which they call books by hand in case you don't know pva stands forMoreBut it's in a different line which they call books by hand in case you don't know pva stands for polyvinyl acetate. And that's a really good glue to use in your book projects.

What is the best glue for repairing books?

Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) Glue For bookbinding or repairing books, the best glue for bookbinding is good PVA glue, not only is it very effective, but it can also be found in any craft or art supply store.

How do you glue the spine of a paperback book?

Reattach the cover if it has separated from the spine. Use a small paint brush to apply an even coat of acid-free glue to the book spine. Press the cover into place and wrap rubber bands around the book to firmly secure the cover while the glue dries.

How do you fix a hardcover book cover?

0:543:19How to Reattach a Book Cover - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake your tape with the folded edge up press the moisten half of the tape to the book spine placeMoreTake your tape with the folded edge up press the moisten half of the tape to the book spine place tape slightly below the top edge of the spine.

What is book binding glue?

4:1416:28My Top Bookbinding Glue Recommendations & Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut it's in a different line which they call books by hand in case you don't know pva stands forMoreBut it's in a different line which they call books by hand in case you don't know pva stands for polyvinyl acetate. And that's a really good glue to use in your book projects.

How do you fix torn pages in a book?

0:241:03How to Repair a Torn Page - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCarefully fit the two edges of the tear together and blot off any excess adhesive with theMoreCarefully fit the two edges of the tear together and blot off any excess adhesive with the cheesecloth. Place a second sheet of waxed paper on top of the page. And smooth.

Can you iron a book cover?

Open the book cover or the page that is creased, and place it flat down on an ironing board if the stacking the book didn't remove the crease.

How to glue a book spine?

Put the two glued spines together. Lay the book flat on a table with the spine off the edge. Use the handle of a table knife to apply pressure back and forth along the length of the spine for 30 seconds. Let the glue set for one hour.

How to measure the width of a book?

Measure the entire width of the book. Place one end of the measuring tape even with the front edge of the front cover. Wrap the tape across the front cover, snugly around the spine of the book and across the back cover to its front edge. The spine is the bound edge of the book. Measure the width of the part of the cover that opens.

Do paperback books need repair?

They are highly portable, thus taking an amazing amount of abuse. Eventually, many of these books require some degree of repair. In particular , either one or both covers are torn or have come off, or the entire cover is detached from the pages.

Why is it important to repair a paperback book?

Paperback books are especially vulnerable to the wear and tear caused by voracious readers. It is important to repair a damaged paperback book as soon as possible, before the cover or individual pages separate from the spine and become lost forever.

How to repair a tear in a paper?

To repair a tear, use scissors to cut two sections of tape that are just longer than the tear. Place the tape on both sides of the tear, and smooth and press it down with a bone folder. Use scissors to trim excess tape beyond the edge of the paper.

How to reattach a book to the spine?

Reattach pages that have separated from the inner spine. Open the book to the where the separated page belongs. Extrude a thin line of acid-free glue along the inner spine. Stick the page in place. Stick pieces of wax paper on either side of the page to prevent the glue from oozing up and causing pages to stick together. Once all pages are glued in and lined with wax paper, close the book and place a couple of heavier books on top to secure the book closed. Allow the glue to dry according to the dry time on the bottle.

Get the book repair guidance you need

Download this guide to learn the best way to protect your hardcover and softcover books and how to make some of the most common book repairs.

Author

John Ison retired in 2011 after working with Demco for more than 25 years, most recently as the Director of Library Relations. During that time, he conducted over 300 book repair workshops, wrote the Demco Collection Care Guide, and wrote and produced the Demco Collection Care DVD.

How to repair a torn book jacket?

You’ll need your fine paint brush, glue, wax paper, and bone folder. This also works for a torn book jacket. 1: Place a piece of wax paper underneath the ripped page. 2: Using your fine brush and just a tiny amount of glue, paint the glue over the tear. 3: Place another piece of wax paper over the tear, and press the bone folder over ...

What glue do I need to repair a book?

What You’ll Need for Book Repair. You want a glue that dries clear and is flexible when dried. Elmer’s Glue works just fine, but PVA craft glue is a better bet if you want your book repair to last. You’ll actually probably want a few different tapes for different jobs.

How to make a book with a hamburger?

Measure the height of your book, and trim two pieces of binding tape to the appropriate length. Fold the piece of tape in half longwise (hotdog, not hamburger). Put the crease of the tape that you just created into the crease of the book. Use a bone folder to smooth the tape.

What do you need to wrap a book?

You’ll need binding tape, a bone folder, glue and paint, and something soft to wrap the book in, like a T-shirt or a non-adhesive bandage or wrap. Brace the book with weights on either side so that the spine is horizontal to the table.

Can you use masking tape on a torn page?

For loose bindings, you’ll want binding repair tape. If you want a budget option, plain masking tape is okay, too, but make sure it’s acid-free .

Introduction

Text books face a lot of wear and tear and by the end of the semester their covers can be ragged. This simple and cheap fix will help those covers look like new again and prevent further damage.

Step 2

Wrap the ConTact Paper over your book, measuring out enough to completely cover the book.

Step 3

Place a paperweight on the side of the folded paper to prevent curling. Or even the scissors you're using (as shown) to hold down the corner of the paper.

Step 4

Cut the ConTact Paper from the roll, keeping to the length measured to cover your entire book.

Step 5

Once the extra ConTact Paper is discarded, cut the ConTact Paper diagonally towards the spine of your book.

Step 6

With the cover of your book laying flat against the left side of the paper, peel back the right half of the paper from the laminate film.

Step 7

Place the top edge of your book to the top edge of the center of the laminate film.

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