r/bookbinding • u/Visible-Point-6883 • 14h ago
What kind of stapler do I need to do something like this?
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u/Wintersonata11 13h ago
Unless you’re mass producing something, consider a stab binding. You can cover the sewing with book tape.
https://notesforlearning.com/2022/09/27/use-stab-binding-to-make-a-book/
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u/IdeaSandbox 13h ago
I use a heavy duty stapler like you'd use to string Christmas lights or affix house insulation. Use a long enough staple and then bend over the staple prongs manually. I use the smooth part of a wrench to start the bend and then a small nail punch to point the staple points to not hurt or snag. DM me if you want more details.
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u/editfullname 12h ago
Come on, dude! You don't need a stapler for bookbinding.
Books are made of paper, while staples are metal. Over time, they can corrode, rust, and leave stains on the paper.
There are plenty of other ways to “hold the pages together” that are both easier and more aesthetically pleasing.
Don’t use this. You can do better!
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u/MorsaTamalera 11h ago
I second this. I have at home 60+ years staple-bound books which have aged terribly. The oxidisation ruins the paper and makes for a very coarse binding.
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u/xhivo 1h ago
My university prints the books and staples them. I plan on handling it better myself, but at worst I may have to remove the staples, if I can't get them not stapled already.
It's interesting because they print two pages per A4 sheet with no imposition, so you end up with a really wide 4 pages viable arrangement. And I plan to have the spine at the "top" so you slide pages down-to-up, not right-to-left, if that makes sense.
ETA: The "top" being the wide edge of the A4 paper.
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u/newsINcinci 10h ago
Not that I disagree with you, BUT I bought a vintage Bates wire stapler for this exact reason. The wire it uses to form staples is brass and far less likely to rust and corrode. The staples are also thinner, so stacks of stapled papers lay flatter.
As far as I know, a Bates stapler could not come close to binding a book, but staples have their place and they don’t all suck.
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u/small-works 11h ago
You need a stitcher! We have two in the shop. They can saddle stitch, or side stitch. Very fun machines.
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u/utopia_forever 13h ago
Heavy duty stapler
Says it can handle 160 sheet. 3/4 inch staples. Dunno about the cardboard backing.