CUTTING.
In olden times, when our present work-tools did not exist and material
aids were scarce, a sharp knife and straight edge formed the only
implements used in cutting. Now we have the plough and cutting machine,
which have superseded the knife and straight edge; and the cutting
machine is now fast doing away with the plough. There are very few
shops at the present moment where a cutting |60| machine is not in
use, in fact I may say that, without speaking only of cloth books, for
they must always be cut by machinery owing to the price not allowing
them to be done otherwise, there are very few books, not even excepting
extra books, that have escaped the cutting machine.
[Illustration: Cutting Press and Plough.]
[Illustration: Sliding Knife.]
All cutting “presses” are used in the same way. The plough running over
the press, its left cheek running between two guides fastened on the
left cheek of the press. By turning the screw of the plough the right
cheek is advanced towards the left; the knife fixed on the right of
the plough is advanced, and with the point cuts gradually through the
boards or paper secured in the press, as already described in preparing
the boards. There are two kinds of ploughs in use—in one the knife
is bolted, in the other the knife slides in a dovetail groove—termed
respectively |61| “bolt knife” and “slide knife.” The forwarder will
find that the latter is preferable, on account of its facility of
action, as any length of knife can be exposed for cutting. But with a
bolt knife, being fastened to the shoe of the plough, it is necessarily
a fixture, and must be worn down by cutting or squaring mill-boards, or
such work, before it can be used with the truth necessary for paper.
[Illustration: Bolt Knife.]
To cut a book properly it must be quite straight, and the knife must be
sharp and perfectly true. Having this in mind, the book may be cut by
placing the front board the requisite distance from the head that is to
be cut off. A piece of thin mill-board or trindle is put between the
hind board and book, so that the knife when through the book may not
cut the board. The book is now to be lowered into the cutting press,
with the back towards the workman, until the front board is exactly on
a level with the press. The head of the book is now horizontal with the
press, and the amount to be cut off exposed above it. Both sides should
be looked to, as the book is very liable to get a twist in being put
in the press. When it is quite square the press is to be screwed up
tightly and evenly. Each end should be screwed up to exactly the same
tightness, for if one end is loose the paper will be jagged or torn
instead of being cut cleanly.
The book is cut by drawing the plough gently to and fro; each time it
is brought towards the workman a slight amount of turn is given to the
screw of the plough. If too much turn is given to the screw, the knife
will bite too deeply into the paper and _will tear instead of cutting
it_. If the knife has not been properly sharpened, or has a burr |62|
upon its edge, it will be certain to cause ridges on the paper. The
top edge being cut, the book is taken out of the press and the _tail_
cut. A mark is made on the top of the hind or back board just double
the size of the square, and the board is lowered until the mark is on a
level with the cut top. The book is again put into the press, with the
back towards the workman, until the board is flush with the cheek of
the press; this will expose above the press the amount to be taken off
from the tail, as before described, and the left hand board will be, if
put level with the cut top, exactly the same distance above the press
as the right band board is below the cut top. The tail is cut in the
same way as the top edge.
To cut a book properly requires great care. It will be of great
importance to acquire a methodical exactness in working the different
branches, cutting especially. Always lay a book down one way and take
it up another, and in cutting always work with the back of the book
towards you, and cut from you. Give the turn to the screw of the plough
as it is thrust from you, or you will pull away a part of the back
instead of cutting it.
[Illustration: Section of Book and Press, book partly cut.]
In cutting the foredge, to which we must now come, always have the head
of the book towards you, so that if not cut straight you know exactly
where the fault lies. The foredge is marked both back and front of the
book by placing a cutting board under the first two or three leaves as
a support; the mill-board is then pressed firmly into the groove and a
line is drawn or a hole is pierced head and tail, the foredge of the
board being used as a guide. The book is now knocked with its back on
the press quite flat, and trindles (flat pieces of steel in the shape
of an elongated U, about 1-1/2 inch wide and 3 or 4 inches long, with a
slot nearly the whole length) are placed between the boards and book by
letting the boards fall back from the book and then passing one trindle
at the head, the other at |63| tail, allowing the top and bottom slip
to go in the grooves of the trindles. The object of this is to force
the back up quite flat, and by holding the book when the cut-against
and runner is on it, supported by the other hand under the boards, it
can be at once seen if the book is straight or not. The cut-against
must be put quite flush with the holes on the left of the book, and
the runner the distance under the holes that the amount of square is
intended to be. The book being lowered into the press, the runner is
put flush with the cheek of the press and the cut-against just the same
distance _above_ the press as the runner is _below_ the holes. The
trindles must be taken out from the book when |64| the cutting boards
are in their proper place, and the mill-boards will then fall down. The
book and cutting boards must be held very tightly or they will slip
and, if the book has been lowered into the press accurately, everything
will be quite square. The press must now be screwed up tightly, and
the foredge ploughed; when the book is taken out of the press it will
resume its original rounding, the foredge will have the same curve as
the back, and if cut truly there will be a proper square all round the
edges. This method is known as “cutting in boards.”
If the amateur or workman has a set of some good work which he wishes
to bind uniformly, but which has already been cut to different sizes,
and he does not wish to cut the large ones down to the smaller size, he
must not draw the small ones in, as he may possibly not be able to pull
the boards down the required depth to cut the book, but he must leave
the boards loose, cut the head and tail, then draw the boards in, and
turn up and cut the foredge.
“Cutting out of boards” is by a different method. The foredge is cut
before gluing up, if for casing, taking the size _from the case_, from
the back to the edge of the board in the foredge. The book is then
glued up, rounded, and put into the press for half an hour, just to set
it. The size is again taken from the case, allowing for squares head
and tail. The book having been marked is cut, and then backed. Cloth
cases are made for most periodicals, and may be procured from their
publishers at a trifling cost, which varies according to the size of
the book and the amount of blocking that is upon them.
This method of cutting out of boards is adopted in many of the cheap
shops (even leather shops). It is a method, however, not to be
commended.
To test if the book be cut true it is only necessary to turn the top
leaf back level to the back of the book and |65| even at the head; if
it be the slightest bit untrue it will at once be seen.
[Illustration: Cutting Machine.]
A few words about the various cutting machines that are in the market.
Each maker professes his machine the best. In some the knife moves with
a diagonal motion, in others with a horizontal motion.
The principle of all these machines is the same: the books are placed
to a gauge, the top is lowered and clamps |66| the book, and, on the
machine being started, the knife descends and cuts through the paper.
[Illustration: Registered Cutting Machine.]
Another machine by Harrild and Son, called a registered cutting
machine, is here illustrated. Its operation is on the same principle as
a lying press, the difference being, that this has a table upon which
the work is placed; a gauge is placed at the back so that the work may
be placed against it for accuracy, the top beam is then screwed down
and the paper ploughed. A great amount of work may be accomplished with
this machine, and to anyone that cannot afford an ordinary cutting
machine this will be found invaluable.
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