The final step is casing in, putting the text block into its case.
Start by pushing the scrim down into the shoulder with it, with the bone folder.
Now this can be done in one or two steps.
The two-step process is a bit easier, so I think that's the way we'll do it.
The first step is to attach the text block at the shoulders with PVA.
This will make gluing down the paste downs much easier later.
Just put a very small amount on the inside of the shoulder of the book on both sides.
Just a small amount, but all the way along.
We're not going to be able to get back into that shoulder later, so we do want it attached all the way along.
So just put a little bit of PVA all the way along.
One side, then the other.
And put the text block into the cover, pushing the shoulder in firmly against the board.
Make sure you get front to front and back to back.
Make sure the squares are even at the head and tail.
Bring the other cover over and push the shoulder, the boards, firmly into the shoulder.
Now put the book between a couple of boards, line the edge of the pressing boards with the edge of the cover boards.
You don't want to crush the shoulders, then put a good weight on it.
Leave it like this for 5 or 10 minutes, while that PVA keys in strongly.
Now, it should be safe to open the book up, and the text block will be held in on the shoulders.
Put a waste sheet in underneath the outer endpaper, which is the paste down.
And then using paste, first paste the scrim down.
Now, put some paste behind the tapes.
I find they usually want to go up onto the boards.
Sometimes they like to go, they just naturally want to fall down onto the endpaper, in which case paste them on the
other side. Now finally, paste out the endpaper,
making sure you get an even coverage, but don't get it too wet.
My approach to closing the book is to hold the endpapers with a little bit of tension - not much because it's wet -
and then roll the board down onto the endpaper.
I slightly bend it as I roll it down.
I think this reduces the chances of getting creases.
Now turn the book over and on the edge of the bench.
Open it up and carefully, under some rubbing down paper, smooth out any creases in the endpaper.
Make sure there's no bubbles.
Some people like to just close the book up.
That usually works.
But occasionally I've found that I get a significant crease that's hard to work out, and because it is paste, you can
lift it back up.
Put in a piece of polyester or some other moisture barrier.
You don't want the moisture from the paste down getting into the text block.
Turn the book over and repeat on the other side.
Once the book's cased in, put it between a couple of boards .
Again, being careful not to crush the shoulders.
And put a weight on it and just leave it 5 or 10 minutes.
Now, the best way to dry the book is open, so stand it up on its tail and open it up, but support the text block
under it with a couple of pieces of scrap board.
I also like to put a really large bulldog clip on the fore edge.
And you can put it down near the tail of the book and that helps support it.
Leave
the book like this overnight, and the next day the endpaper s, or the paste downs, should be dry.
Also notice how the boards now curve in, because the endpapers have shrunk and pulled the boards in - which is
exactly what you want.
There's one final detail to fix up.
You'll notice that the Paste down stretched a little bit and you'll be able to see them sticking out from the text
block. And that's not desirable.
You don't like to be able to see the paste downs.
This is easily fixed.
Open the book and support the cover with a pressing board and very carefully, with a steel ruler, trim off just
enough. Usually about a millimetre, so that the paste down is not visible in the text block.
Now you don't want to push so hard as to cut the board papers or the cloth on the corners.
Once cut, this little strip of paper will normally just lift right off.
If you're having trouble getting to lift off - usually over the paper it's sometimes stuck on a little bit harder.
Just use a cotton wool bud with a little bit of moisture, and that will lift it up easily.
And once you've done that, the book is complete.
I hope you've managed to produce a book that you're really happy with.
One last thing - when you open your book for the first time , make sure you do it a few pages at a time.
Maybe don't just flick it open like I just did there.
Instead, put it up on its spine, holding the text block up , and open a few pages at a time.
This will stop the spine being weakened at any one spot, which will cause the book to always open at that one spot
forevermore.
So if you've completed your own book, then congratulations - well done.
Thanks for coming on the journey with me and trusting me to guide you on your first book.