Why does nobody talk about using a hairdryer on stubborn endpapers?

I spent 6 months fighting with wavy endpapers on every hardcover I made. Tried heavier boards, different glue, even left books under a stack of encyclopedias for 2 days. Nothing flattened them out. Then a buddy at the Portland bindery mentioned hitting the spine area with a hairdryer on low heat before pressing. Total game changer. That gentle heat lets the glue relax just enough so the paper lays down flat without bubbles. Has anyone else tried this trick, or am I the last one to figure it out?

2 comments

2 Comments

maxmurphy1mo ago

Wait, are you pressing them while the glue is still warm from the hairdryer, or are you letting it cool down first? Because I tried that trick once and it actually made my endpapers curl worse, the heat seemed to wake up the glue again and it puckered where I didn't want it to. Maybe my issue was the paper type or the humidity in my shop, but I found that a cold press with a ton of weight and a lot more patience did the job better in the long run. Not saying your method is wrong, but I think the heat can be a band-aid that hides a bigger problem with how the glue is being applied or how the boards are prepped. If it works for you though, keep at it, I just had a different experience with it.

barbara27829d ago

My 1967 copy with brittle pages taught me heat is only good for old glue, new glue just laughs at it.