I was gluing up a text block for a journal and the spine kept getting too stiff, so I tried a trick my old boss showed me back in 2010.

3 comments

3 Comments

fisher.mason12d agoMost Upvoted

@grace_fox3 makes a good point about the hinge cracking. I read an article from a bookbinding blog that said a lot of old timers overdo spine stiffness because they think it means stronger. But the truth is, a spine that can't flex at all puts all the pressure on the hinges. I've seen journals where the glued spine was rock solid but the pages started tearing away from the back after a few months. A little movement actually spreads out the stress.

michael5192mo ago

Honestly, why would you ever want a flexible spine on a journal? A stiff spine is way better because it keeps the book from flopping open and ruining the pages. Tbh a loose binding sounds like it would just fall apart after a few weeks of real use. That trick from 2010 is probably an old hack that causes more problems later. I always make my spines as solid as possible so the whole thing lasts longer. A journal needs to be tough, not bendy.

grace_fox32mo ago

Wait, you make all your spines totally solid? That sounds like a nightmare to actually write in, lmao. I can't imagine trying to lay a book flat with a board-stiff spine. @michael519, do your journals just crack open at the hinge after a while? A little flex is basic for durability, it lets the book move without breaking.