Five years ago, in an essay I called “In a Bind,” I wrote of the beauty of a professionally bound Shutterfly book compared with my home-produced, comb-bound books. I ended my essay by asking, “Why doesn’t a company produce a professional-type bookbinding machine for the home market?” That day has arrived. Numerous machines are available for under $200.
In years past, I held the pages of a potential book tight while I dripped glue from a glue gun onto the ends of the papers, the spine area. Messy. And worse, many of the pages fell out of the book.
The machine I just ordered is the Fellowes Helios 60. With this machine I will be able to lay my pages in a cover, store-bought or homemade, and have the machine melt the glue line at the spine of the book. Once the glue cools, the pages should be in for good.
I also ordered a high capacity stapler for under $25. I will be able to staple the pages near the spine, for added security.
What kinds of bookbinding projects do I have in mind?
- Pop-up books: In the past, I put together groups of pop-up cards in chronological order and attached them by gluing the front of one card to the back of another. Now I would like to bind those cards to hard covers.
- My mom’s and my kids’ artwork: I would like to bind books with the kids’ drawings, and photos of my mom’s paintings. I plan to make covers by laminating drawings, using them for the front covers.
- Hobbies: I would like to bind books relating to some of my other hobbies.
- Homemade storybooks: I often make up stories, which I tell the grandkids. I would like to bind storybooks and academic workbooks, of all sizes for my grandchildren.
Even though I don’t expect my binding to be professional looking, I will have fun experimenting. If my great-grandchildren will look at my work one day, that will be my reward.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen51@gmail.com
