The small set of tools I actually use

When I started binding books I read long lists of essential tools and nearly convinced myself I needed a dedicated room. In reality almost everything I make is done on the kitchen table with a handful of things that fit in a shoebox. Here is what earns its place.

The essentials

• A bone folder. A smooth, flat tool for creasing folds and smoothing paper. Mine is a simple one with a rounded end; I also use the back of a teaspoon in a pinch.
• An awl. For piercing sewing holes. A thick needle pushed into a cork works almost as well.
• A metal ruler with a cork back, which stops it sliding on the paper.
• A sharp craft knife with spare blades. Dull blades tear paper fibres instead of cutting them.
• A self-healing cutting mat, large enough for a sheet of A3.
• Bookbinding needles and waxed linen thread.
• A small, flat glue brush.

That is genuinely enough to make pamphlets, multi-section books and simple case bindings.

Nice to have

These came later and made things more pleasant, but I managed for a long time without them:

• A punching cradle, a V-shaped holder for opening signatures while piercing. Before I had one, I used an open book to hold the signature at an angle.
• A set square, for making sure covers and pages are cut at true right angles.
• Clothes pegs and binder clips, for holding sections together while sewing.
• Two pieces of board and some heavy books to use as a press.

The press, made from books

A proper book press is a handsome thing, but I have never needed one. After gluing, I place my work between two sheets of baking paper, then between two smooth pieces of board, and stack the heaviest books from my shelf on top. Overnight is usually enough. The baking paper stops any glue squeezing out and sticking to the boards.

Glue

I use a PVA glue sold for bookbinding, which stays flexible when dry, and sometimes wheat starch paste that I cook myself for covering boards. The paste dries slowly, which gives more time to position paper. Both clean up with water.

Things I could have skipped

• A fancy set of decorated bone folders. One simple one is plenty.
• A large stock of expensive paper before I knew what I liked. A few sheets of several types would have taught me more.
• Specialised corner rounders and edge tools. Nice, but rarely used.

Looking after tools

The knife needs the most attention. I change the blade much more often than I used to, and the cuts are cleaner for it. I keep the awl tip covered with a cork so it does not stab anything in the shoebox. Once a month I rub the bone folder with a soft cloth to remove glue smudges, which can otherwise mark the paper.

Workspace

A clear table, good daylight or a bright lamp, and a scrap sheet of paper to protect the surface from glue: that is the whole workshop. The low barrier is part of what I love about this hobby. You can start this evening with things you probably already own.