On Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:22:47 +0100, The Night Tripper
wrote:

MM wrote:

I have to get a really sharp blade in this case because I am using the
chisel for trimming book blocks at the fore-edge. With patience the
method gives excellent results, but you have to keep the chisel as
sharp as possible. I trimmed a 20mm thick book block yesterday, 130
sheets of 80gsm paper, and had to re-hone the chisel three times.
Doesn't take that long, though. 20 minutes for trimming and honing.
The result is fantastic.

Hmm ... I do a bit of home binding, and one day will have to get around to
doing something like this. Do you have a 'proper' press for this? I'm keen
to find out how others trim 'on the cheap'...

Cheers
J^n

I cut two pieces from 38mm x 38 mm timber, about 30cm long, sandwiched
them lengthwise and drilled two 10mm holes through both, one near each
end. The book block is clamped between them (2x 10mm bolts with
wingnuts), then one of the long pieces is clamped to a table or
Workmate with the book block vertical in the clamp. You leave about 3
- 4mm of the fore-edge of the book block sticking up proud of the
clamp.

Now you take a really sharp chisel, hold it flat on the top of the
long piece facing you, gently apply the blade to the book block. The
chisel is held at a slight angle (2 or 3 degrees) so that only the
corner of the chisel contacts the paper. Then you slide the chisel,
pulling it towards you, across the block, cutting one or two pages at
a time. YOU MUST KEEP IT FLAT!

Some instructions I've seen say to *push* the chisel away from you,
but I found pulling it easier.

When the first few snippets of paper come away from the book block,
you know you're on the right track! Hint: Get some old books from the
local library to practise on. Usually only 10p to 20p each.

After about a third of the way through I re-honed the chisel.
Alternatively, start the job with three chisels honed and ready. BTW I
tried a 25mm chisel and it didn't work as well as the 32mm.

Refinement: First apply a thin aluminium strip, about 30mm wide, to
the long piece you'll be sliding the chisel across on. This prevents
the chisel from cutting slivers off the wood. I've yet to apply my alu
strip - only bought it yesterday - and I plan to glue it on, maybe
with 2-component adhesive like Araldite. Alternatively, drill and
countersink and attach with screws, though then you're going to be
left with possible snag points. I reckon it'll stick okay with some
decent glue.

MM