Indiana University Libraries Book Repair Manual

• Repair Treatments

  Cut Pages Flat Paper Mend Hinge Mend Index Addition Spine Labels Tighten Hinges Tip-In Adhesive Injection Board Transplant Post Binder Recase Reback Partial reback New Case Adhesive Binding
• Enclosure Treatments

  Built-up Box CD Pocket Corrugated Clamshell Box Cloth-Covered Clamshell Box Mylar Encapsulation Pamphlet Binding Envelope with Sleeve Phase Box Portfolio Tuxedo Wrapper Kyle Wrapper
• Hand Tools

  Angles Awls Backing Hammer Bench Brush Bone Folder Chisel Dry Cleaning Sponge Eraser/Crumbs Glue Brushes Hammer/Punch Heated Microspatula Knives and Sharpening Tools Microspatula Needles Rulers Scissors Syringe Tacking Iron Tweezers Vessels Weights Whisk
• Shop Tools

  Adhesive Binding Tools Board Shear Corner Rounder Crimper Cutting Mats Freezer/Dryer Fume Hood Guillotine HEPA Vacuum Job Backer MEASUREpHASE Paste Tools Presses Press Boards Rivet Bucker Stapler Ultrasonic Welder Wet/Dry Vacuum
• Supplies and Materials

  Adhesives Fasteners Filaments Tapes Pamphlets/Security Roll Materials Board/Card Paper Disaster Supplies
• Glossary
• Home

Linen Thread

Waxed Thread

This is used in the closures of phase boxes. It is pre-cut to length, using a cutting template. To begin, the thread is simply wound around the template many times. Shown here is an earlier version of this simple and ingenious template, which was itself the full length of the phase box threads. This required that the thread be cut at both ends, and as one might imagine, the second of those cuts was sometimes troublesome. So we made a few improvements, as shown below.

First of all, here's a shot of the old full-length template.

First, the template was reduced to exactly half the length of the phase box ties. Second, a small slit was cut in the template, into which the thread fits very snugly. A knot is tied in the end of the thread and it is worked into the slit and pulled until the knot is against the board (red arrow). This serves as a third hand in getting the winding started. And finally, the template was ensured a long life by the addition of a piece of self-healing cutting mat on one side.

A straight edge is situated anywhere on the cutting mat (it doesn't have to be square across). The threads are cut with a razor knife.

As can be seen, only one cut needs to be made instead of two.

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Cotton Twine

Cotton twine is used chiefly for making headbands and for reinforcing the cover material of cases at the top and bottom of the spine. The gauge or diameter used is the one most commonly called "16 ply" by manufacturers.

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