Perfect Binding

Step 4 Glue the pages and spine (work quickly!)

Gather all your pages together in order, square them (make the edges even), then compress them using a vice or binder clips or your hands, etc. Smear glue all over the side you are going to bind into the cover, making sure to get into the little crevices. To this end, I usually use a paintbrush, but you can also use your fingers. (If you do use a paintbrush, immediately soak it in water when you're done, so the glue doesn't harden. I recommend keeping a glass of water nearby for this purpose, putting the brush in it whenever you're not using it.) When you feel that there is enough glue, add a little more, then quickly glue the inside spine of the cover, then place the pages onto the spine. If your coverstock is flexible, fold it around the textblock, making sure to compress the pages as much as possible. If it's not, bend it at the scores you made earlier. Smack the spine and ends flat against the desk/workbench/ground a couple of times (fairly hard), then leave it on its spine to dry.