Welcome to About Bookbinding your resource
for FREE bookbinding information.
by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
3rd Edition Published in London 1897
linen will answer as well.
Size:-
(1). 1 quart of water.
½ ounce of powdered alum.
1 ounce of isinglass.
1 scruple of soap.
Simmer the whole for about one hour, then pass through a fine
hair sieve or piece of linen. Use this whilst warm.
(2). 1 gallon of water
½ lb. of best glue.
2 ounces of powdered alum.
Simmer and use as above.
(3). 1 quart of water.
2 ½ ounces of isinglass.
2 drachms of alum.
Simmer the whole for about one hour, strain as above.
leaf requires sizing, such as when a name has been erased from a title-page, is as follows:-Boil about a quart of water
in a saucepan. Whilst boiling, add about two oz. of shallae and ½ ounce of borax; the borax will dissolve the shellac,
which will be held in suspension; the whole must then be passed through a fine hairsieve, or piece of linen, to rid it of
all pieces or impurities. This will keep a very long time, and may be used over and over again.
Great care must be exercised that not too much shellac is used, or the paper will be rendered transparent.
Manipulation Dust
The careful application of India-rubber or bread will generally take away all dust. In using India-rubber, hold the
sheet or leaf down by the left hand, and rub gently away from it. If the rubber is used in a to and fro motion there is
great danger of the sheet doubling back and breaking. The bread may be used in a circular motion; and if a book be
cleaned from dust by this means without pulling the pieces, all crumbs must be brushed away from the back very
carefully before closing the book.
Water Stains
If the stains be from water, the application of boiling water and alum will take them out. This stain is the one most
usually found in books, it may be distinguished from other stains by leaving a mark having a sharp edge.
To take such a stain away, pull the book to pieces, strew on the bottom of the pan a handful of powdered alum, on
this pour a quantity of boiling water. Immerse each section leaf by leaf in the liquid, and allow to remain for some
hours. It may be found rather difficult to get the sheets to go under the water; and as one cannot press them under
by hand, on account of the heat, make a substitute by wrapping strips of linen on the end of a piece of wood; keep
this handy, it will be found very useful; being round at the end, and soft, it does not tear or go through the paper, as
will anything sharp.
The alum water will, after a time, become very discoloured; this is only the stain and other dirt extracted from the
paper; throw this away by tipping the dish, or by the use of the siphon; add fresh water, either warm or cold, but
preferably warm, to dissolve any excess of alum that may have soaked into the paper, and to further clean it. After a
time the whole book may be taken out, placed between pressing boards, and excess of water pressed away by the
laying press. The sections are then carefully opened, and hung upon lines or cords stretched across the workshop to
dry. When dry, should the paper require it, poass the whole section by section, or leaf by leaf, through a size, press,
and again hang up to dry. When dry, it will be ready for rebinding. It may happen that only a single leaf is stained;
do not cut this out as is usually done, but wet a piece of fine string, which lay on the leaf as far in the back as
possible; close the book and allow to remain a few minutes; the leaf may then be readily drawn out, the moisture of
the string having made the paper soft where it was placed. It may then be cleaned, and when dry and pressed,
replaced.
email: info@aboutbookbinding.com
