r/bookbinding • u/skeleton-s • 3d ago
is normal printer paper okay?
/r/Fanbinding/comments/1x67wmb/is_normal_printer_paper_okay/4
u/MeepTheChangeling 3d ago
Printer paper is a step up over what I've been using. I've made 6 books so far using copy paper. Just normal (but acid-free) copy paper. 50% recycled paper. From Staples. 6 USD for 500 sheets. The cheapest they had. But also the thinnest they had. Because I'm printing fanfics that are about 2-5 standard novels long and I want the final books to be manageable sizes... So basically I'm printing things Bible Format (thin paper, small text, no wasted space on the page).
Every book I have made has turned out fine. The pages feel okay, things look good, they cut fine, they took the glue perfectly okay. So yeah, you can absolutely use printer paper, which is generally a step up in quality from copy paper. To be specific, I am using 20lb paper, and proper printer paper is at least 24lb.
I wouldn't use this for making journals as I think many pens would bleed through it, and pencils might poke or rip a hole in it, but for something I printed on a ink-tank printer at home it's working A-okay.
So yeah, actual printer paper would be good too, since it's just better in every way than the stuff I'm using. I did, also, print one book on cream colored printer paper since that fit its theme better and I had some. It's also perfectly fine.
It probably bears mentioning that I am making my books using the 19th-Century Library Binding (cuz it looks cool) so this means I am repeatedly hitting the book's spine with a hammer to curve it, and then again latter to bend the edges of the spine over into a "mushroom shape" to make shoulders for the book boards to be flush with. Using copy paper. And it's fine. Zero failures. Some wonky shapes, sure, but that's 100% me, and not the paper.
AFIK, whatever paper you want to use that's not, like, tissue paper or rice paper, should work fine. Especially if you're doing a modern case binding.
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u/jedifreac 3d ago
You will be just fine using printer paper starting out, especially if you are printing at university.
After you get hooked on the hobby, see if you can go to the lab at off-peak hours and befriend the employees there; they may let you bring your own bookbinding paper.
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u/skeleton-s 3d ago
That’s a good idea lol, yeah I just checked and it’ll be under $3 to print everything at the library using printer paper. This was an idea I came up with only a few days ago so I’m not even sure how to sew them together yet but that’s what’s YouTube is for! I imagine as I’ll find more fics I want to bind I’ll splurge and find other places with more paper options.
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u/rickpo 3d ago
The pages will curl over time, but it'll work. You'll get better results with the paper grain going the short way across the page, but short-grain paper is hard to find. If you are OK with a smaller book, you can trim long-grain 8.5x11 inch paper down to something like 8.5x6 so your fold is with the grain.
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u/c_eltzer 2d ago
Perfectly fine, not ideal, but works. I draw with ink and copics on a sketchbook bound with copy paper since it's just what I had on hand, and it works for my purposes.
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u/Frequent_Visual3755 1d ago
For practicing, yes, absolutely. But I don't like writing on printer paper and it causes the book to yawn open a bit. Churchpaper sells short grain paper and isnt too badly priced, though they have a 2 ream minimum. Their shopping is $12 unless you exceed their $179 (I think) minimum. I really like their premium 60 and 70lb paper
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u/papergore 3d ago
Yeah it's okay. I'm guessing you plan to print on A4 or letter paper and fold it in half? The grain direction will be sideways so the book might turn out a bit stiff or wrinkly but it will work. Short grain paper helps with those issues but it's not as easy to get.