Second spine in 112 years. Last time the cardboard replacement method was used. This time I decided it deserved a spine that would arch beautifully over its beautifully arched spine. After the new mull was thoroughly dried, I measured, with a string and then the string on a ruler, the distance of the arch. I decided which colour of book tape I would use (green won out, it looked best and was widest).
I cut the tape the needed length and then cut a piece of binder tape. It is gummed cloth. You need not use it. At home I would use a sturdy piece of regular cloth. A cotton probably, some unsuspecting male's old cotton trousers, or, as I have used before, ancient and venerable linen towels. Cut the cloth to cover the length of the book's covers and width of the spine arch. Then place it centred on the sticky side of the book tape (that's important - sticking it to the non sticky side of the book tape requires glue and leaves your cloth strangely exposed on the outside of the spine. An artistic statement perhaps, but not the one I am after.). Then! to make the ends of the curve of the spine match the thickness of the book covers place the always useful pieces of string the width of the spine. This time I cut straight up from the string ends and only formed the wedge shapes afterwards using an knife, but you can simply cut out the wedges with scissors.
With the book resting on the cloth of the new spine, press the tape onto the book cover. Draw up the centre first and work out to the edges. The tapered ends are then wrapped around to the inside of the cover.
Next time a quick look at the finishing off bits.
Second spine in 112 years. Last time the cardboard replacement method was used. This time I decided it deserved a spine that would arch beautifully over its beautifully arched spine. After the new mull was thoroughly dried, I measured, with a string and then the string on a ruler, the distance of the arch. I decided which colour of book tape I would use (green won out, it looked best and was widest). 
I cut the tape the needed length and then cut a piece of binder tape. It is gummed cloth. You need not use it. At home I would use a sturdy piece of regular cloth. A cotton probably, some unsuspecting male's old cotton trousers, or, as I have used before, ancient and venerable linen towels. Cut the cloth to cover the length of the book's covers and width of the spine arch. Then place it centred on the sticky side of the book tape (that's important - sticking it to the non sticky side of the book tape requires glue and leaves your cloth strangely exposed on the outside of the spine. An artistic statement perhaps, but not the one I am after.). Then! to make the ends of the curve of the spine match the thickness of the book covers place the always useful pieces of string the width of the spine. This time I cut straight up from the string ends and only formed the wedge shapes afterwards using an knife, but you can simply cut out the wedges with scissors. 
Next time a quick look at the finishing off bits.
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