How to Fix Spinal Separation in a Textbook
Fixing a spinal separation in a textbook is a fairly easy procedure that restores the integrity of the book, and prevents it from ending up in the trash bin. When a book is handled frequently, it's not uncommon for the spine to eventually start to detach from the book. When this happens, large sections of pages may eventually start to pull loose, resulting in the entire book falling apart. A 5 minute repair can fix the spine on your book, and prevent the problem from worsening.
Things You'll Need
- Craft glue
- Knitting needles
- Chopsticks
- Heavy cardboard
- Waxed paper
- Boards
- Weights
- Ace bandage
Instructions
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1
Place the textbook upright on a table or other flat surface. Hold the spine as far away from the contents of the book as possible, and apply glue to the interior of the spine. Knitting needles or chopsticks can be used to apply the glue to the spine.
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2
Lay the book flat on the table, and push the contents firmly against the spine. Open the front cover slightly, and push the endpaper of the book toward the spine with a stiff piece of cardboard. The endpapers are the thicker papers you'll find on the reverse sides of the front and back covers. Do the same with the back cover.
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3
Close the book, and use the piece of cardboard to gently press on the outside edges of the spine where the front and back covers meet the spine.
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4
Put the textbook between two boards that are slightly longer than the book. Place 10 lbs. worth of weight on the top board, being careful to equally distribute the weight along the board. If you don't have weights, you can use a 10 lb. bag of flour or sugar.
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5
Let the textbook dry for several hours, and resume studying with your repaired book.
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Tips & Warnings
Before you begin gluing the spine, put pieces of waxed paper under the front and back covers to prevent damage to the book from excess glue. Slightly tacky glue, such as craft glue, tends to hold the spine in place better than smoother glues. It doesn't matter what brand of glue you use, as long it is tacky. If you don't have boards and weights available, you can wrap the book tightly with an Ace bandage, and let it dry overnight.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Irmgard/Wikimedia Commons
