Handbound Book

Step 7 Attach the Cover Boards

With your book block of signatures lying face up, place a piece of scrap paper (wax paper actually works better, if you have it) between the mull and the tapes and another piece of scrap paper beneath the tapes. Brush the mull with glue.

Remove the top piece of scrap paper. Press the front cover board against the mull, making sure 1/8" of the board extends over the head, foot, and fore edges.

Open the front cover and rest it against a board (or another book) roughly the same thickness as your book along the spine for support. Rub down the mull with a clean, dry cloth or paper until the glue works into the board and becomes almost dry.

Now, apply glue to the tapes and glue the tapes to the mull and cover board, making sure the tapes are perpendicular with the spine. Discard the second piece of scrap paper, and place a clean piece of scrap paper between the cover board and the first signature. Making sure the board is still straight, place the book under weights to dry for a half hour.

To make a more uniform surface (because any variance might show through the endsheets), draw a line on the inside of the cover 1" from the spine and use your utility knife to trim the mull and tapes only along the line (don't cut into the board).

Place a fresh piece of scrap paper between the cover and the first signature, and turn the book over. Repeat the process for the back cover. Your project should start to look like something resembling a book at this point.