TIL my bone folder technique was causing spine damage

I was working on a small leather journal yesterday, trying to get a sharp crease on the cover. I kept pressing really hard with the bone folder, like I always do. The spine started to look weird, almost wavy, and the leather felt thin in spots. I watched a video from a binder in Seattle and she just glides the tool with light, repeated passes. Tried it on a scrap piece and the crease was clean with no damage. Anyone else used too much force before figuring it out?

3 comments

3 Comments

hollywhite1mo ago

Oh man, I was totally in the same boat. I used to really bear down on it thinking more pressure meant a sharper fold. Ended up with a few sad, crushed spines before I saw someone online doing those light, smooth passes. It feels wrong at first, but it works way better.

riverh491mo ago

That technique works on stubborn cardboard too.

owens.anthony1mo agoMost Upvoted

Hah, my buddy did the exact same thing with a board game box last week. He pressed so hard trying to get a clean fold that he just tore the whole corner off. Watching him learn the light touch method was honestly pretty funny.