Introduction:
For true book lovers, the enjoyment comes not only from the contents within but also from what lies outside. The feeling of holding a beautifully made, new book is far incomparable to holding a worn out, dog-eared one.
As more books are purchased, it’s inevitable to come across some that are less than perfect. Especially those that have been sent via post may come across rough handling, causing dents or creased corners. Nowadays, owing to cost savings efforts by publishers, most books are glue-bound. Therefore, it’s quite common to see cases of split spines and pages falling out.
Simple cleaning or dust removal or a mere dab of glue doesn’t solve these issues. That’s when a seemingly unconventional tool, an iron, comes into play. In my over a decade long experience, this tool has proven to be super handy and effective.
Tools Required:
The primary tool is of course, an iron. Most households have a steam iron, but you can switch off the steam function for this application. I specifically sought an old heavy iron due to its convenience in use.
You would also need face tissues, printing papers or even ordinary manuscript paper. The thinner, the better.
Importance of Temperature:
Temperature control is the key aspect of book-ironing. Generally, higher temperatures yield better results with creases fading quicker. However, high heat may damage the cover lamination and may cause over-heating of inner pages leading to irreversible curling. Hence, an ideal method would be quick ironing- hold down on the cover only for 2,3 seconds, lift and repeat. Ensure to leave some interval time between each ironing session. This way, you can avoide overheating and potential damage caused to the pages.
Applicability:
Ironing books primarily caters towards rendering a flat appearance to book covers and inner pages that may be creased or dog-eared, and corners that are curled (it doesn’t make them brand new, though!).
Moreover, it helps the glue of the book spine to adhere better and fixes the splitting of the book’s start and end.
Ironing Techniques:
Two primary methods can be employed while ironing books. One is the ‘Flat Ironing’ method which is applied on the book’s cover and on curled or creased inner pages. Simply place the book on a flat surface and iron it. The other method is termed as ‘Dimensional Ironing’ which is especially used for fixing the splitting spines and deformation at the root of the book. In this case, the book is held in one hand and ironed with the other – a floating operation. You can also place the book on the edge of a table for ironing.
Tips and Tricks:
- When ironing the cover, always put a paper between it and the iron to prevent damaging the cover’s laminate. Even for paper covers, use a thin piece of paper to prevent it from shining.
- After ironing a crease, the page tends to wrinkle slightly, resembling waves. In this case, it’s best to lightly iron the outer border of the crease. This second round of ironing is meant to soften the “waves” and make the page flatter.
- For books with split spines, softening and adhering the glue by ironing is helpful. However, every kind of glue reacts differently to heat and some may require repeated heat treatments. In these situations, you can mold the softened glue with light pressure on the spine or the sides for a better outcome.
- After ironing the spine, avoid immediately opening the book for inspection. Instead, wait for it to completely cool down before examining. If it has not adhered properly, it may need to be ironed again.
- Regardless of whether it’s a cover or an inner page, after being heated, it tends to wave slightly but will become flat naturally after a few days. If you place a few books on top of it after ironing, it will flatten quicker.
The above points are some of the bits and pieces of experience I’ve accumulated over time in the art of book ironing. Over time and real practice, you might pick up on more tips and feel free to share your own experiences too!
Just to add, all the repairs mentioned above didn’t require any additional glue, but relied on the low melting point of the original spine glue. Aiming to recover the book to its original state as much as possible, a little heat goes a long way!
Other Advises:
Is there a recommended temperature range when using an iron to repair books?
When repairing books using an iron, it’s indeed crucial to pay attention to a certain temperature range. When selecting the temperature, the first consideration should be the nature of your iron and the material of the book.
Generally, setting the iron temperature to medium-low is most suitable, which is approximately around 100℃. Excessive temperature may cause discoloration or even charring of the paper, so extra caution should be exercised during operation to avoid prolonged stays in the same spot.
Furthermore, it’s advisable to place a clean cloth or parchment paper between the pages and the iron during the process. This can better protect the pages and prevent potential damage caused by direct contact with high temperatures.
However, since each person’s iron and the books needing repair may vary, it’s best to test on spare paper beforehand to see if it causes any harm to the paper, and then proceed with the actual operation.
Can the iron be directly placed on the book page for repair？
When repairing books using an iron, although the iron can directly contact the pages, to prevent excessive heat from damaging the paper, we typically recommend adding a protective layer between the pages and the iron.
You can use a clean cloth or parchment paper as an insulating layer, which not only protects the pages but also effectively conducts heat, making the pages flat. Although this step adds some extra steps, it better protects our books.
