How to Do a Screw Post Binding

Beginning bookbinders can easily master screw post bindings. Commonly used to bind swatch books and photo albums, screw posts are easy to use and make for sturdy bindings. You can create a custom scrapbook or album with screw posts and just a few additional materials.

Things You'll Need

• 120 lb. paper
• Binders board
• Ruler
• Utility knife
• Card stock
• Pencil
• Awl
• Book cloth or decorative paper
• PVA adhesive
• Glue brush
• Bone folder
• Decorative paper
• 2 screw post assemblies
• Flathead screwdriver

Instructions

1. Trim 4 inches from the width of binders board that's 5 inches 4mm tall and 10 inches wide using your ruler and utility knife. You will have two 2-inch wide book covers. Cut one 4-inch scrap in half length-wise so you now have two 2-inch strips for your album's spine pieces.

2. Make your punching template. Draw a line lengthwise through the center point of card stock that's 2 inches wide and cut to the height of the book board. Draw a bisecting line 3/4 inch from the card's top and bottom. The intersections of your lines are where you will make screw post holes. Align your template on top of one 2-inch book board strip and pierce each intersection with your awl. Work the awl's point all the way through the binders board and rotate to open up the hole. Repeat for the other 2-inch piece of binder's board.

3. Jog 50 sheets of 5-by-8 inch, 120 lb. paper to make sure they align with one another. Align your template along the short edge and pierce where the template's lines intersect. Work your awl through the layers, keeping the paper in alignment as you work.

4. Place one book cover on the wrong side of your book cloth or decorative paper. Position it 3/4 inch away from three edges and trace its outline. Using your ruler, measure 2mm away from the fourth edge and position your spine piece parallel to the cover outline. Trace its outline and repeat for the other cover.

5. Glue out your boards. Use the outlines on your covering material as a placement guide and set the boards adhesive-side down. Once correctly positioned, work over the boards with your bone folder to adhere. Fold in the corners and miter. Apply adhesive to the cloth or paper flaps and turn in. Use your bone folder to press the flaps to the edge of the binders boards and then secure them firmly to the inner cover.

6. Apply your paste down. The paste down should measure 1/4 inch less than the height and width of your covered boards. Glue out and evenly align on the exposed binders board. Use your bone folder to gently work the paper into the joint between your cover and spine piece. Allow your covers to dry and break through the covering material to open up your screw post holes.

7. Sandwich the paper between your finished covers, making sure all the holes are aligned. Push the screw post bottoms through the holes from the back cover. Screw in the top section of the post through the front cover. Secure tightly with a flathead screwdriver.