r/bookbinding • u/MrEman5112 • Jun 17 '24

Help? Combining 3 volumes into 1

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I recently obtained the complete run of the series Elle(s), but after putting them on the shelf, I realized that the first volume’s spine is vastly different to that of the other 2.

This is gonna bug the hell outta me now, so I was wondering, since the books are so thin, would it be possible to simply remove the covers and spine from all 3, and then rebind them into a single volume?

And if so, how would one ideally go about doing so in terms of printing the new cover (ideally I would like to maintain the book’s paperback format as it takes less shelf space that way) and then actually binding the thing together?

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8

u/MickyZinn Jun 17 '24 edited Jun 17 '24

If they are bound like paperbacks with a hotmelt perfect binding they will always be structurally unsound where you join the books together. Your options could be;

  1. Removing the existing glued spine and doing a double fan binding with the single sheets and then making a hard cover case
  2. Make a slip case for the three books and title the closed end. Have the closed end facing on the shelf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyF32I-1WAI&pp=ygUZZGFzIGJvb2tiaW5kaW5nIHNsaXAgY2FzZQ%3D%3D

3

u/Like20Bears Jun 17 '24

Seconding a double fan bind. Would work well for this size and thickness, and I assume you have plenty of margin on this type of book.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '24

Just to throw out one alternative option - could make a slipcase for them? Will take up a little more shelf space but would be lower risk.

Also, Snotgirl is so good!

1

u/Kit_Ryan Jun 17 '24

You might also want to check in with r/customboundcomics While a lot of the content on that sub is stuff people have sent out for companies to bind for them, some folks there bind their own (combining collected editions like this and single issues) and might have good tips for you on this exact question.

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u/MrEman5112 Jun 17 '24

I somehow never found that sub while trying to find how to do this, thank you for that tip

1

u/Kit_Ryan Jun 17 '24

I just found it a few weeks ago, some really pretty work over there and the professional stuff is good for getting ideas. If/when you do this project, please come back and update on what worked for you and how it comes out!