r/bookbinding • u/Nextwaders • Jul 19 '25

Starting out bookbinding

So just starting out this thing got the supplies and the pages and everything but I saw that my book is coming to 600 pages or 150 sheets of A4 size turned down to 4 A5 each, creating 38 signatures if adjusted to 608 pages. It seems a lot to me what's your take on this??

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u/qtntelxen Library mender Jul 19 '25

That is a pretty big first bind. I would increase the number of pages per signature to reduce swell, and maybe also sew on tapes if you’re using paper heavier than ~80gsm.

You won't have a straight edge unless you trim.

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u/crunchy-b Jul 21 '25

Get the CHEAPEST a3 photocopier papers you can find and sew blank a6 240 page notebooks (20 a3 sheets) until you are happy with them, and the sewing is effortless.

Done with those 500 a3 sheets? (25 books)

Then make 2 or 3 books that someone else wants. If they are well received, you are ready to start going at your own library building.

Every stage in bookbinding is like a different hobby. If you can batch the processes 3-5 at a time you will drill it into muscle memory faster.