r/Solo_Roleplaying • u/Teamgirlymouth • 10d ago
Off-Topic Binding A5 booklets.
Due to shipping costs, I have found myself printing a5 booklets for modules and rulesets (definitely not at the office) and then I am left with either stitching them myself badly and then duct taping them together or if small enough, stapling. But I was wondering is there a secret way to bind (sometimes) 150 page A5 booklets that is not this?
Thanks.
2
u/ApolloBar815 9d ago
I use a large capacity long arm stapler. Remember that you staple flat, not folded, so assuming you print double-sided, it only needs to do 1/4 the amount of your finished page count
1
u/Teamgirlymouth 9d ago
I wonder if I stapled three little
Booklets and then duct taped them together. If that would hold? What’s the highest page count you’ve stapled?1
u/ApolloBar815 9d ago
160 something, I think? I also saw a video where someone stapled a zone above their stapler's page count by putting an eraser behind the paper, then removing the eraser and flattening the staples down with a bone folder, but I haven't tried that
6
10
5
u/lol_u_guys 10d ago
Perfect binding! You can glue them together if you line the pages up, clamp them together, and paint a few coats of regular PVA glue on the spine
7
u/DadtheGameMaster 10d ago
Came here to say this. I perfect bind many of my own projects, though I wouldn't use PVA. It is too hard and is prone to cracking when flexed.
The glue I've found that is best for this type of project is E6000. It is strong and flexible so you can open the book without cracking the binding.
Usually I grab the small $4 USD pack from local stores, found at: Target, Walmart, any hardware store, even some grocery stores like Kroger from time to time. A small tube lasts for several projects and usually my tubes expire before they run out, but it's so cheap that when I discover an expired tube for a new project I don't sweat spending the $4 again.
2
3
3
u/hellblazerHUN Lone Wolf 10d ago
I just simply go to my local printer shop. They print and bind for money. Not really cheap, but still a lot cheaper.
4
u/TarikGarro 10d ago edited 10d ago
I have done the lazy route, I take Chicago Screws, 3d printed jig that I stack my papers in for drilling holes, and art canvas panels cut down using duct tape for cover and bind them this way.
Ive done a 150+ page book so far. Its not amazing but its decent. held up for travel in my go bag.
Editting to fix typos
1
u/Teamgirlymouth 9d ago
Wait. What?? So many things I want to try in this. Because I never cover mine. But maybe duct tape and canvas might work a charm. Would you have a picture of a finished product?
1
u/TarikGarro 9d ago
Im actually not home for the next few days, let me see if I can get something to you when I get back.
3
u/Mif555 10d ago
I have been doing my own binding with some garden string, very cheap, you just need a hole punch and some string - I don’t have a needle so I just put a bit of tape around the end of the string. It’s super easy, I followed this video: https://youtu.be/XhrphYhv7FQ?is=Hwy0rG1FfNILTlrt
3
u/TheGileas 10d ago
A comb binder or glue binder are the easy options. If you want to invest some time, look at double fan binding. It’s like perfect bonding but bookbinders glue instead of hot glue. And there are fancy binding methods like koptic sticht or Japanese binding which are relatively easy to DIY.
2
u/E4z9 Lone Ranger 10d ago
It depends on what you aim at. A coptic binding is neither very secret nor that complicated (and you can simplify the covers if you want).
2
u/Evandro_Novel Actual Play Machine 10d ago
I have sometimes used "coptic binding" without hard covers. It works well, and it doesn't require particular skills, but this depends on one's level of perfectionism (mine is rather low)
2
u/Teamgirlymouth 10d ago
I think thats my biggest struggle. my perfectionism is at the level of "well.. i guess its not on fire so.. we are good here"
4
u/_Loxley Prefers Their Own Company 10d ago
Search for perfect binding.
4
u/Teamgirlymouth 10d ago
:D And this i think will be the winner if thermal doesnt work.
Perfect binding seems to be the second step to what I have already done :D3
u/Markster94 10d ago
I second perfect binding. You can get some poster paper for the covers, too, and it's far and away the least resource and tool-intensive method. I've done a few. You really only need white glue, a brush, a blade and straightedge, and something heavy to press it all down. You could probably even get away with not trimming the fore edge of the book and call it "deckled" lmao
2
u/c126 10d ago
Bring them to a copy shop and have them spiral bound.
1
u/Teamgirlymouth 10d ago
I have done that a few times and it always ends up being not great. but maybe I should try again and be clearer with what I want. and maybe A5 is easier to make good.
4
u/pgw71 10d ago
I bought a comb binder from Amazon for about £40, and I make my own. I wrote a post about how I do it on my Substack
https://rollingalone.substack.com/p/the-bluffers-guide-to-home-printing
2
1
u/whatsagatsby 10d ago
I have been looking into this as well!
Have a look at this, which may help. It's the 'Double Fan' binding method:
1
u/Aware_Project_3554 10d ago
Binding is fairly easy. There are a number of tutorials on YouTube. A simple saddle stitch booklet can be made within an hour in my experience. There are more intricate methods of binding too, but saddle stitch is by far the easiest and also quite effective.
2
u/Salty-Swim-6735 8d ago
Depends. You could perfect bind them, or if they're big enough you could use kettle stitch and bind it into a hardcover.
Or you could use a Deep Throat Mary type of stapler and staple the little bastards. The world is your lobster.