Introduction: How to Manufacture and Use Your Own Book Binding Jig

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About: Team Go Awesome was founded in the Spring of 2014 for the English 421 Class: Technical Writing. These instructions were developed for Project #2.

Creating your own book binding jig and book is quite simple. These instructions will help you build your book binding jig. This could be used for a notebook, a drawing book, or even a diary. These instructions are most helpful for those who have basic knowledge of a saw and drill. Follow these instructions to create your own book or notebook!

Step 1: List of Required Materials

• Two square feet of ¾- inch MDF board
• Saw
• Hand drill or drill press
• Four- 1/8 – by 1 ½ inch bolts (Figure 3)
• Four- 1/8-inch wing nuts (Figure 2)
• Four- 1/8-inch washers (Figure 5)
• Two- ¼-inch wing nuts (Figure 1)
• Two- ¼-inch washers (Figure 5)
• Two- ¼ by 3-inch bolts (Figure 4)
• Carpenters square
• Wood glue
• 8 ½ by 11 inch paper (desired amount)
• One- 8 ½ by 13 inch cover paper
• X-Acto knife

Step 2: Safety Information

WARNING: When using a saw be sure to wear the proper protection equipment, like safety glasses. Operate the saw according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Keep hands away from the rotating saw blade. Please keep children away from saw when operating. As you use the drill press, be aware of where your hands are in relation to the drill bit. Be sure to clamp or hold the wood stable while drilling the holes. Prevent cutting or slicing yourself while using the X-Acto knife by using the knife properly.

Step 3: Manufacturing Instructions

Cut a 12 ½ by 6 ½ inch section of board using the saw. (Be sure to use proper safety when operating the saw. Refer to the safety information above.)

Step 4: Manufacturing Instructions

Cut two 12 ½ by 1 inch brackets from a new piece of MDF board.
One will be the alignment bracket and the other will be the clamping bracket.

Step 5: Manufacturing Instructions

Cut one 4 ½ by 1 inch bracket from a new piece of MDF board.  This will be the side alignment bracket.

Step 6: Manufacturing Instructions

Position the alignment and clamping brackets flush with the edge of the board. Secure each with a C-clamp, or anything else that ensures the bracket will not move, before drilling the holes for the attachment bolts.

Step 7: Manufacturing Instructions

Drill two- ¼ inch holes through the board and brackets. Ensure that the brackets do not move out of place while drilling so that the holes are aligned and straight. (Be sure to use proper safety when operating the hand drill or drill press. Refer to page 2 for safety information.)

Note: After the ¼ inch holes are drilled in the clamping bracket, get a slightly lager diameter drill bit and drill through the same holes. The larger diameter holes will allow the bracket to slide and adjust to the edge of the board when clamping the pages.

Step 8: Assembly Instructions

Attach the bottom alignment bracket to the main board by inserting two 1/8-inch bolts through the pre-drilled holes.

Step 9: Assembly Instructions

Slide the 1/8 inch washers onto the bolts, and then tighten the 1/8 inch wing nut on the bolts.

Step 10: Assembly Instructions

 Attach the side alignment bracket to the main board using the same method used to attach the bottom alignment bracket.

Step 11: Assembly Instructions

Use the carpenter’s square to check for proper alignment

Step 12: Assembly Instructions

Attach the clamping bracket using the same method used to attach the bottom and side alignment brackets.
Use ¼ by 3-inch bolts, ¼ inch wing nuts, and ¼ inch washers.

Step 13: Creating the Book

Take one sheet of the 8 ½ by 11 inch paper and fold it in half.

Step 14: Creating the Book

Fold however many sheets you would like to put into the book.

Step 15: Creating the Book

Place the pages into the book binding jig, with the folded edges at the top.  This requires the removal of the clamping bracket to allow the pages to fit

Step 16: Creating the Book

The folded edges should stick out from the edge of the jig just enough to allow glue to seep in between them.

Step 17: Creating the Book

Make sure the pages are lined up with the alignment boards.

Step 18: Creating the Book

Slide the clamp down and tighten the bolts to press the pages together. This will become the bound edge of the book.

Step 19: Creating the Book

Apply the glue to the top of the folded pages. Do not oversaturate the paper with glue, but allow glue to seep an 1/8 inch in between the pages.

Step 20: Creating the Book

Allow the glue to dry for several hours.

Step 21: Creating the Book

Cut out an 8 ½ by 13 inch of paper (preferably a thicker paper than the book pages) that will be used as the cover. 

Step 22: Creating the Book

Place the cover for the book (the 8 1/2 by 13 inch paper) into the jig, underneath the clamping bracket.

Step 23: Creating the Book

Apply a small amount of glue to where the cover meets the glued pages. Fold the cover page over the glued folded pages and press the cover page down. 

Step 24: Creating the Book

After the glue is dry it can be removed from the jig.
Note: Refer to gluing instructions for drying time

Step 25: Creating the Book

Trim the sides of book with an X-Acto knife and ruler to ensure flush edges.

Step 26: Conclusions

The book is now finished! As you can see, building a book binding jig and creating your own book is quite simple. Now you’ve just created your own book that can be used for multiple purposes.

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