A librarian in Portland asked me why I always use the same grain direction

I was showing off a new quarter-leather binding at the local library fair, and she pointed out that all my books have the grain running head to tail. She said she sees a lot of older books where the binder went against the grain for decorative covers, and it got me thinking about sticking too hard to the 'rules'. Has anyone here deliberately bound something with the grain going the wrong way, and how did it hold up after a few years?

3 comments

3 Comments

logan_mitchell1mo ago

Actually, humidity is a huge factor in how glue sets and cures. PVA and animal glues are water-based, so high humidity slows down drying and can keep the adhesive tacky for too long. That weakens the bond and can cause warping as the different materials expand at different rates.

elliotm571mo ago

Consider how humidity changes affect the binding.

ben_lewis1mo ago

I mean, that's a good point about humidity, but binding is usually more about temperature and pressure, right? The glue sets based on heat, not really how wet the air is. Maybe it's just me but I've never seen humidity mess up a bind unless the pages themselves got damp first. Idk, could be wrong but I think the main worry is keeping the paper flat while it dries.