TIL that using a hair dryer on a tight spine actually works

I always thought heating a book spine was a risky shortcut that could damage the glue. But last week, working on a stubborn 19th century rebound novel, I gently applied a hair dryer on low for about 30 seconds and the spine flexed perfectly for trimming. It saved me from having to re-back the whole thing. Has anyone else tried this on older cloth bindings?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_mia13h ago

Just keep the heat moving and don't overdo it on the old glue.

lane.mason12h ago

Totally agree about the heat. I used a low setting and kept the gun moving in small circles. Letting the glue get too hot makes a huge mess and can damage the piece. I found that a little patience goes a long way, scraping gently as it softens. Rushing it always ended badly for me.