Waited 6 months before trying Japanese paper hinges for a repair

I was dead set against using Japanese paper hinges for a long time. Thought it was just hipster bookbinding hype until a 1908 bible came in with pages so brittle I had no other option. The thing held up perfectly after 4 months of use so who else here was skeptical about something in the trade that turned out to be legit?

2 comments

2 Comments

phoenix_carter9d ago

Funny, I had almost the opposite experience. Tried Japanese hinges on a 1920s novel that seemed perfect for them, and the whole thing just felt off after a few months. The paper started pulling away from the hinge at the spine, and I had to go back in with cotton cloth anyway. Maybe it was my glue mix or the humidity in my shop at the time, but I still think they're way overhyped for anything that gets regular handling.

hayden4669d ago

That line about "maybe it was my glue mix or the humidity" really stuck with me. It's like how when something goes wrong in my life I always blame the setup or the timing instead of just admitting the thing itself might not be that great.

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