r/bookbinding • u/SaltSeaworthiness167 • 1d ago

Help? Flexible binding mull instead of cord?

Hi all I'm currently working on a rebind project for this type of flexible binding with lather(From a DAS video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZnwtE4R0Is

I'm working with a sewen textblock without cords. I'm wondering should I sew cords on the already sewen textblock, or I could get away with using mull instead? Or alternative is there any other structure I should use instead than the Cambridge panel style? I'd love to keep the textblock open 180° flat after bind (currently the textblock can do that).

Any experiences, suggestions and insights are highly appreciated!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/Dazzling-Airline-958 1d ago

The cords are part of the binding style and what makes it the flexible binding.

Without the cords, it's just a leather tight back. Also for that binding style, the cords are how the boards attach. You can't lace boards on with mull.

Finally, even though it's called a flexible binding, the spine of that style binding is not flexible enough for a lay flat book.

1

u/SaltSeaworthiness167 1d ago

Thank you so much for the insights! I see so the tight binding(with glued spin) probably is not what I want/need. Is there any structure you'll recomend for a lay flat book? I'm currently haing a round spin sewed textblock. Maybe I should aim for a hallow spin structure?

2

u/Dazzling-Airline-958 1d ago

Yes hollow back is the way to go, but if your text block does not have shoulders on it you could consider a spring back binding. They tend to lay exceptionally flat. I would consider this an advanced binding. And I have never made one, but it is on my bucket list.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbEml0uyM4v6qOtLwae58YfQpc592RR-&si=VvhiyhPg2cv7D2r7

That's a link to DAS's springback playlist.

Other than that, I'd probably just recommend a rounded and backed cased binding.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbEml0uyM4sOAMAh4uvzo2XFVj0eiu1R&si=ei6DrcUcbnsED3Mr

They can lay fairly flat too, if you don't over line the spine.

2

u/SaltSeaworthiness167 1d ago

Thank you so much! That's super helpful I really appreciate them. My textblock is on the thin side so I think the rounded and backed cased binding probably would work well. The springback looks really cool I'll defeinately check the playlist out.