Welcome to our guide on casing in a book, the final and essential step in your bookbinding journey. In this guide, we’ll walk you through constructing a cover and casing a book block or text block into it. You can follow along with the video for a visual guide, but we've outlined each step below in detail for easy reference.
Materials You'll Need:
Text block/book block with a prepared spine (either sewn or prefabricated).
Bookcloth for the cover (we're using paper-backed bookcloth, but starched bookcloth works as well).
Two pieces of binders board cut to the width of the text block with an additional ⅛” in height.
Bristol board cut to the same height as the boards and the width of the text block’s spine.
Jade 403 glue (or any PVA glue).
Brush for applying glue.
Knife for trimming.
Bone or Teflon folder for burnishing.
Non-stick material like silicone release paper for interleaving.
Click here for a complete list of the materials used in this video and tutorial.
Step 1: Preparing the Cover
Start by drafting the layout on the back of your bookcloth. Leave a 1-inch margin around the edges and ¼” gaps between the binders boards and the spine piece. These gaps will create a groove, allowing flexibility when the cover opens and closes.
Place the first board on a sheet of silicone release paper.
Apply a generous amount of glue to the board, starting from the center and working outward.
Carefully place the board onto the outlined section of the bookcloth and use a bone or Teflon folder to burnish it down, ensuring smooth adhesion without air bubbles.
Next, apply glue to the bristol board (spine piece) and adhere it in place, burnishing again for secure attachment.
Repeat the process for the second board.
Step 2: Trimming the Corners
To trim the corners, fold each corner of the bookcloth up at a 90-degree angle and mark the outer corners with a pencil.
Using a straightedge, draw a line at a 45-degree angle from the corner and trim with a knife.
Don't worry if the cut isn't perfect—small imperfections will be hidden later by paste-down sheets.
Step 3: Folding and Gluing the Bookcloth
Use your bone folder to pre-crease the folds on all sides of the cover, which will make the gluing process smoother.
Start by folding in the side flaps, applying glue, and pressing them over the boards.
For the corners, use the tip of the bone folder to tuck the bookcloth neatly around the edges.
When gluing the top and bottom flaps, pay close attention to the spine area, making sure the bookcloth stretches evenly into the indent. Burnish it gently for a smooth finish.
Step 4: Let the Cover Dry
Once all sides are glued, prop the cover upright and let it dry under some weight. Use a material the width of your spine and thickness of your board (perhaps board cut to size) to hold down the spine indent. If you have a book press, use it, but heavy objects like books will work as well. Let it sit until fully dry.
Step 5: Casing In the Text Block
Now that your cover is complete, it’s time to case in your text block.
Place the text block inside the cover and adjust it so that the margins are even on all sides. This step may take some trial and error, but getting the margins right is crucial for a polished, professional result.
Once the text block is positioned, carefully open the cover and insert two layers of silicone release paper between the text block's paper and the mull fabric of the spine.
Apply glue to the mull fabric, and if you're using tapes from the text block, be sure to glue those down as well.
Remove the first layer of release paper to prevent glue from seeping through, then gently close the cover and burnish along the spine groove with your folder.
Repeat this process for the other side of the text block.
Step 6: Pressing and Drying
With both sides of the text block glued and burnished, place the book in a press or under some weight to dry. Be sure to align the brass edges along the grooves between the boards and the spine before tightening the press gently.
Allow the book to dry in the press for a few hours.
Step 7: Final Steps
Once the book has dried, remove it from the press. You should now notice that the book opens smoothly without shifting the spine—a key to durability.
Insert two sheets of silicone release paper between the first page of the text block and the cover.
Apply glue to the first page, working from the center outward, remove the top sheet of silicone release paper, and press the cover down.
Repeat this step on the other side.
Return the book to the press for a final drying session, ideally overnight.
Once dry, your book is complete and ready for use!
