Repair an old book spine?

I once built a hardcover book in college, I beleive http://bookbindingfb.com is where the professor told us to get instructions and you can also order replacement parts, they're relatively cheap.

Gotta assume you're fixing old books to read, not to collect. I completely--but neatly--cover the covers and bindings of paperback books with clear packing tape, trimming it off at the edges with scissors.

Then I open the front and back pages and run clear tape down the crease.

This generally holds them together long enough to get through them once. Oh. It's a trick I learned from the Boy Scouts. They use it on beat up Boy Scout Handbooks.

Wish I could help you on the darned hardcovers. You'll need an old librarian to teach you those techniques.

I don't suppose you have own/have access to/know someone with a thermal binding machine do you? They're quite effective, my sister has repaired several of my old books.

But if they're precious books... maybe you'd want to go for something with a little more reverence. I'd recommend going to a professional for that kind of thing.

Just a thought anyway. :)

I agree, if its just a simple book to read, chop off the cover so the spine is bare and exposed, then take duct tape and connect it all, but make sure its wide enough. You may want to then go over again with tape laterally.

I hope the books the folks who wrote about repairing are on spelling, grammar and punctuation.