MARKING UP AND SAWING IN.
The books having been in the press a sufficient time, say for a night,
they are taken out, and run through again (collated) to make sure that
they are all correct. A book is then taken and knocked straight both
head and back and put in the lying press between boards, projecting
from them about 1/8 inch; some binders prefer cutting boards, I prefer
pressing boards, and I should advise the use of them, as the whole can
be knocked up together. They should be held between the fingers of each
hand, and the back and head knocked alternately on the cheek of the
press. The boards are then drawn back the required distance from the
back of the book: the book and boards must now be held tightly with the
left hand, and the whole carefully lowered into the press; the right
hand regulating the screws, which should then be screwed up tightly.
The book is now quite straight, and firmly fixed in the press, and we
have to decide if it is to be sewn flexibly or not. If for _flexible_
binding the book is _not to be sawn in_, but marked; the difference
being, that with the latter the cord is _outside the sheets_; with the
former the cord is _imbedded in the back_, in the cut or groove made
by the saw. We will take the flexible first, and suppose that the book
before us is an ordinary 8vo. volume, and that it is to be cut all
round.
The back should be divided into six equal portions, leaving the bottom,
or tail, half an inch longer than the rest, simply because of a
curious optical illusion, by which, |21| if the spaces were all equal
in width, the bottom one would appear to be the smallest, although
accurately of the same width as the rest. This curious effect may be
tested on any framed or mounted print. A square is now to be laid upon
the back exactly to the marks, and marked pretty black with a lead
pencil; the head and tail must now be sawn in to imbed the chain of the
kettle stitch, at a distance sufficient to prevent the thread being
divided by accident in cutting. In flexible work great accuracy is
absolutely necessary throughout the whole of the work, especially in
the marking up, as the form of the bands will be visible when covered.
It will be easily seen if the book has been knocked up straight by
laying the square at the head when the book is in the press, and if
it is not straight, it must be taken out and corrected. If the book
is very small, as for instance a small prayer book, it is usually
marked up for five bands, but only sewed on three; the other two being
fastened on as false bands when the book is ready for covering. There
would be no gain in strength by sewing a small book on five bands.
[Illustration: A. Saw marks for catch-up stitch.]
When the book is to be “sawn in,” it is marked up as for flexible
work, but the back is sawn, both for the bands and kettle stitch, with
a tennon saw. In choosing the saw, it should be one with the teeth
not spread out too much; and it is advisable to have two of different
widths. Care must be taken that the saw does not enter too deeply, and
one |22| must, in all cases, _be guided in the depth by the thickness
of the cord to be used_. The size of the book should determine the
thickness of the cord, as the larger the book, the stronger and
thicker must be the cord. Suitable cord is to be purchased at all the
bookbinder’s material shops, and it is known by the size of the book,
such as 12mo., 8vo., 4to. cord.
[Illustration: Sawing-in Machine.]
I think nothing looks worse than a book with great holes in the back,
sometimes to be seen when the book is opened, which are due to the
inattention of the workmen. Besides, it causes great inconvenience to
the forwarder if the cords are loose, and the only thing he can do in
such a case is to cram a lot of glue into the grooves to keep the cord
in its place. If, on the other hand, the saw cuts are |23| not deep
enough, the cord will stand out from the back, and be distinctly seen
when the book is finished, if not remedied by extra strips of leather
or paper between the bands when lining up. It is better to use double
thin cord instead of one thick one for large books, because the two
cords will lie and imbed themselves in the back, whereas one large one
will not, unless very deep and wide saw cuts be made. Large folios
should be sawn on six or seven bands, but five for an 8vo. is the right
number, from which all other sizes can be regulated.
Saw benches have been introduced by various firms. They can be driven
either by steam or foot. It will be seen that the saws are circular,
and can be shifted on the spindle to suit the various sized books.
As the books themselves are slid along the table on the saws, the
advantage is very great in a large shop where much work of one size is
done at a time.