Walked into a small bookbinding shop in Portland last weekend and got a surprise

I was visiting Portland for a few days and stopped by this tiny shop called The Bindery Studio. The owner was working on a leather journal and she showed me how she uses old sewing machine parts to make her own tools. I never thought about making custom tools before but now I'm curious. Has anyone else tried modifying tools to fit your own binding style?

3 comments

3 Comments

margareto264d ago

Saw a video online where a bookbinder turned an old kitchen knife into a bone folder after grinding down the blade. It sounded weird at first but the results looked clean and it saved them money on buying specialty tools. Makes you wonder what other everyday stuff could get repurposed for this kind of work.

robin6284d agoProlific Poster

You ever try using a butter knife as a burnisher, @margareto26? Works like a charm if you give it a good polish first.

the_wendy4d ago

Wait @margareto26, you're telling me someone actually ran a kitchen knife through a grinder for bookbinding?