Note Book Cover

[Ferg]

I have made three note book covers in recent days and have been quite dissatisfied with all of them. Didn't like the way they folded etc.

In a passive mood I sent Bob Park a note asking him what methods he used for making his covers, I am sure he won't object to my placing this information

on the site for everyone to peruse.

hidepounder said:

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Ferg,

I usually use 6/7 oz leather for the leaves and 4/5 oz for the binding. I then build the binding up with one or two pieces of 6/7 oz to make it stiff. The build up is tapered at about 45 degrees away from the fold. So if I have a 1-1/2" ring binder, my build up will start at about 2" wide and taper in to about 1-3/4". Additionally I add a 4 mil to 6 mil stiffener to the binding (between the build up) and the leaves before covering everything with the 2/3 oz lining. I hold back the stiffeners and the built up portion of the binding so that there is a good 1/4" area to create the fold. I find I get a much better result by building up the 4/5 oz binding rather than grooving 6/7 oz or heavier leather, however it does require more work. I just cannot get a groove to be as smooth and uniform in depth and width as I can by building up the 4/5 oz binding. Additionally I skive the overlap (where the binding and leaf overlaps) so that there is a smooth transition through the fold for

the lining to lay in. That must be done prior to sewing the binding to the leaves and prior to installing teh lining. The lining goes in as one piece with the pockets and loops, etc., all sewn to it. I have tried gluing all the way through the fold and leaving the fold unglued and I still get some wrinkling at the fold so I'm not sure which way is best.

Bobby