Facts on Glue Binding
At Houchen Bindery, there are 3 main types of glues used in our binding processes. We also employ other methods which use thread, such as reinforced Library Side sewn, Smyth Sewn and Oversewn. Those methods will be described in other articles.
1) PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) – a flexible, white glue, used for double fan adhesive binding and for case making. PVA is approved by the Library Binding Institute (LBI) as a certified Library Binding adhesive. Works best with uncoated papers or publication grade lighter weight coated magazine stock.
2) PUR (Poly Urethane Reactive) - the most agressive adhesive used in commercial binding applications, providing superior page pull strength. Works great with uncoated or coated stocks, even cover stock with coatings or synthetic materials such as book cloth, plastic or UV coating. PUR has a lower freeze point and a higher melting point than all other adhesives used in book binding.
3) EVA ( Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) - is the standard hot melt adhesive used in regular perfect binding. This works well on regular trade paper backs or textbooks, catalogs, and other perfect bound products. Not as permanent of a solution as PUR, but works well in many commercial applications.
Have questions? Lets talk about binding! Call me at 1-800-869-0420 or email me at mpugh@houchenbindery.com Copyright 2011, Martin Pugh All Rights reserved.
Portfolio of Some Binding Styles and Techniques
Smyth
Sewn Historical Edition with Offset Printed Cloth
SMYTH SEWN EDITION BINDING
This sample is representative of a Smyth Sewn Hard Cover Book. Houchen Bindery can do Smyth Sewing on a book block up to 10.5″ wide and 12″ Height. This book has a special feature in that, the printer we bound this for was capable of offset printing on cloth. This is a somewhat unique capablity. The edition run length was about 200 books.
Smyth sewn book with head and tail bands side view
As you can see in this photo at right, the book lays flat when opened. This is a distinctive advantage to Smyth Sewn books. Smyth sewn books, however must be made from 16 page signatures.The standard press size for a book that is 8.5 x 11″ would need to be a 40″ press, so it will be capabale of delivering a 16 page signature.
If you want to produce a Smyth Sewn book and it is printing on a digital press, you will need to “nest” 4 page signatures into atleast a 16 page signature.
DOUBLE FAN ADHESIVE BINDING
Double Fan adhesive binding (DFAB) is a library binding style method that utilizes polyvinyl acetate glue (PVA), instead of thread for the binding. This binding method places a microscopic bead of glue on either “side” of the pages after notching the spine edge. This too creates a nice lay flat quality. While this method is often used for periodical binding (which may have lighter weight coated papers), I do not personally recommend an edition to be bound with this method if the interior pages are a coated paper stock such as an 80 or 100 lb text gloss.
DFAB is great for a family history style genealogy edition which will be using uncoated text weight paper on the interior of the book. One of the big advantages here is it is also ideal for short run lengths. Single sheet collated book blocks such as what you would get from a copier or a digital print stream work great. You can also use folded and gathered signatures with this style of binding.
Double Fan Adhesive Binding
Double Fan Adhesive side view 3 inch thick
Double Fan Lay Flat Side view
The book in this example was 1276 pages on a 28 lb Finch Acid Free Paper. The bulk of the book was 3 inches and total weight was 4 lbs!
The edition was for a total of 150 copies. There are not too many binderies out there that can bind a book this thick!
Here’s some of the specifications on this title:
Cover: Navy Blue F Grade Buckram
Page size: 8.5 x 11″ portrait
Text: 1276 pages printed on 28 lb finch bright white acid free
approximately 200 pages had 4 color photographs
approximately 1076 pages were printed in black ink only with many black and white photographs throughout.
Binding Style: Double Fan Adhesive
Blue/White Head and Tail Bands
Silver foil stamping on front and spine of book
150 copies
SIDE SEWN BINDING
Side sewn binding is a method of binding you might also sometimes hear referred to as: “Reinforced Library Binding”. We utilize this method for thinner cased books ranging from 3/8″ thickness or less. It is ideal for Children’s Books, Photo Books, school yearbooks and others.
Make no mistake, this method of binding will last! The polycotton fiber thread that is used to sew through the “side” of a stack of paper is very strong! With side sewing, we are sewing through the side, as opposed to with Smyth sewn binding you are sewing through the “fold”.
Picture of an unbound side sewn book block
To discuss how you can achieve a “crossover” style photo or art on double page spreads in this binding style, please call or email me. I can go over the technical details required to achieve this.
Cloth Bound Side sewn photobook with tip on photo
At the right here we have an example of a side sewn photobook. The book is a typical photobook- about 40 pages in length and thus- very thin. The interior pages were printed on a 100 lb dull gloss text and the book was bound in a light green linen finish Arrestox B grade cloth. Topping it off were some special treatments such as personalized Silver foil stamping on the front cover and the addition of a 4 color mounted tip on photo. The photo below shows the fancy black silk moire endsheets we used for this one-off book project. These type of end sheets do add some extra cost to a book, but the “Wow” factor is priceless.
Fancy Silk Moire End Sheets
Well that’s all for now! Keep checking back for more information on Edition Binding. If you have any questions, please email me at mpugh@houchenbindery.com. Or call me Toll Free 1-800-869-0420.
