Shoutout to paper backing, I stopped using cloth and my spines finally stay square

Brooke Reed · 2026-10-03T08:30:02.486909+00:00

I bound six books last month with cloth spine lining and every single one came out with a slight curve after the glue dried. Last week I switched to a 60gsm paper backing strip and pressed them overnight under 40 pounds of books, and all four spines are dead straight. The cloth was pulling as it dried because it shrinks at a different rate than the board. Paper linings just sit there and hold the spine flat while the whole thing cures. Has anyone else made this switch, or is it a humidity thing with my shop in Denver?

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Shoutout to paper backing, I stopped using cloth and my spines finally stay square | Bookbinders - Thought Shares