Got shown a proper pare-down method last week vs how I used to trim endpapers

I always cut endpapers after glue up with a straight edge and knife. Old timer at the guild showed me tearing them after a light score line instead. Way cleaner edge and less chance of tearing the hinge.

2 comments

2 Comments

zarat3712h ago

Tearing vs cutting endpapers feels like splitting hairs to me. Unless you're working with something super fragile, I doubt the average person notices a real difference in the final book. Maybe it makes the edge a tiny bit cleaner, but that seems like a detail only a binder would care about. I've been cutting mine the same way for years with no hinge issues. Old timers love their little tricks, but that doesn't always mean it's better. If it works for you, fine, but I would not lose sleep over it.

johnson.eva11h ago

Don't you think the torn edge actually gives the paper a better chance to mesh with the paste though? I've noticed that little fuzzy line almost acts like a grip for the glue (it's kind of like how roughening a surface helps paint stick). @zarat37 you might be right that most people won't see a difference in the finished book, but I've had cuts start to lift over time if the paper is really slick or coated. Plus, tearing is way faster once you get the hang of it (no measuring, no lining up a ruler). I'm not saying it's some sacred secret, just that there's a practical reason it stuck around beyond old timer stubbornness.