Fanbinding: "mulberry down!!"

[nuh_s]

More adventures with fanbinding! "mulberry down!!" is a short story/novella by Nicole Kornher-Stace. It's original work about portal fantasy and dreams and bonds up on the internet archive here.



I wanted to try out edge gilding (iron on). Sanding the edges fine and using a tiny iron helped, but it still came out pretty flaky and not even. I'm gonna mess around with the sanding more to avoid weird edges, and I'm gonna try using beeswax to seal it before flexing the pages.

This bind is a little wonky. The spine ended up angled, but I sanded the edges straight and then didn't align the cover properly. I'm still pleased with it though!

More pictures below.

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Comments

[yourlibrarian]

Ooh, what a pretty cover! One of the lovely thing about fanbinding too is that large print is always an option 😉

Try this ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I love the trees on the cover!

>> I wanted to try out edge gilding (iron on). Sanding the edges fine and using a tiny iron helped, but it still came out pretty flaky and not even. <<

Instead of experimenting on a bound book, take a bunch of plain paper or even scrap paper. Cut it in strips (maybe 1-2" wide) to maximize edges and stack into a booklet-size height (at least 1/2" thick). Use binder clips to hold them together, so they'll act like the pages of a book. You then have two long edges to experiment on however you wish, although you'll probably need to move the clips from one side to the other.

If it's being fussy, make a list of your variables so you can track them, such as:
* grade of sandpaper
* how long you sand the pages
* heat of iron

Because once you get it to work, you'll want to replicate that.

*ponder* Might it work if you just inked the pages? I've seen large pads with metallic ink for stamp art. Or maybe you could roll on the ink somehow.

Re: Try this ...

[nuh_s]

I originally was experimenting with some paperback books I already had. I should go back to messing with those and trying to narrow down those factors you mentioned. One thing I think makes a big difference is the finer grit sandpaper, which I'll try out again.

And inking the pages is a good idea. I do have a lot of metallic ink...

Re: Try this ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I originally was experimenting with some paperback books I already had.<<

That's a good idea. If you need a scratch monkey, ask at a used book store if they have stuff they can't sell -- sometimes people bring in textbooks or copies with the cover torn off that most stores won't sell, but will sometimes give away.

>> I should go back to messing with those and trying to narrow down those factors you mentioned. One thing I think makes a big difference is the finer grit sandpaper, which I'll try out again.<<

Sandpaper grit size, and sometimes material, can make a surprising difference.

>> And inking the pages is a good idea. I do have a lot of metallic ink... <<

If you already have metallic ink, definitely experiment with that. It looks great when it works right, but different brands have very different performances. I've done ink-testing (my current one is for paint pens outdoors) and also seen other people's comparisons of metallic inks, pens, watercolors, etc.

[uncaged_butterflies]

This is such a pretty book ♥

[nuh_s]

Thank you! <3

[dhampyresa]

So pretty!

[nuh_s]

:D Thank you!