Dropped $35 on a bone folder, best tool buy I've made

I've been using a cheap plastic bone folder for like two years and finally caved on a proper one from a leather shop downtown. Cost me $35 but I could not believe the difference on my last coptic stitch binding. The creases are so much cleaner and it glides through paper without snagging. Only wish I had bought one sooner instead of fighting with the plastic one. Anyone else find one tool that just made everything click for them?

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3 Comments

charlie_allen3mo ago

Wait, you were using plastic before? I thought bone folders were always made from actual bone or maybe Teflon. The plastic ones I've seen at craft stores are basically just glorified letter openers, they don't work right for folding signatures. The real bone ones have a bit of natural oil in them that helps them slide without tearing the fibers. My first real folder was from a guy at a bookbinding convention, he showed me how to rub it with a little beeswax every few months to keep it smooth. That $35 investment changed my bindings too. Glad you finally got one that works. Just don't drop it on tile floor, they can chip.

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vera_lewis3mo ago

Charlie mentions that the plastic bone folders don't work right for folding, and they really don't. But here's something people miss - those cheap plastic ones can also leave little scratches on your paper if the edge gets even a tiny burr on it. I learned that the hard way on a nice art book I was making. Real bone is way more forgiving on paper fibers.

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robert_smith363mo ago

Holy cow @charlie_allen, honestly never knew about the beeswax trick!

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