Question about spine lining after a tough critique

A binder at a meetup in Phoenix last year told me my spine linings looked 'puffy and weak' because I was using too much paste. I was using a full brush load on each piece of mull. I switched to a much thinner paste mix and now I only dampen the cloth, not soak it. After about five books, the spines are way tighter and lay flat. What's your method for getting the right paste amount on spine linings?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_david1mo ago

That's exactly the right fix. Made the same mistake early on, my spines looked like they had a pillow in them. A thin paste and just a damp cloth changed everything.

claire6161mo ago

I saw a video last week where a bookbinder said the paste should be the consistency of whole milk. @the_david is totally right about the thin mix, it seems like the biggest rookie mistake is making it too thick. That pillow effect you described is exactly what happens, the spine gets all lumpy and weird. A damp cloth to clean up the squeeze-out makes the final product look so much more professional. It's one of those small details that makes a huge difference in the finished book.

jason5241mo ago

My old teacher in Chicago swore by a thick paste for real strength, not that thin milk stuff @claire616 mentioned.