I found a very helpful, simple set of instructions on Instructables, which after considerable research for other methods and techniques, I think I’m going to use.
They are as follows:
This project is meant to be a simple quick project that will give a very acceptable finish, and a book that looks like it has been professionally made, yet without the need for any special equipment.
All you will need is:
Some paper
Minimum really is about 32 A4 or US Letter sized sheets, to make a half A4 (half US Letter sized book), although smaller books can be made as can ones with more pages. You can use tracing paper, thick or thin paper and of course colored or even preprinted or written on paper.
Some glue
You will need PVA (Elmer’s White glue) or a rubber fabric adhesive (in the UK that is called Copydex, perhaps someone could tell me what it’s called in the US), (a glue gun if you have it, would help with one of the stages, but is not mandatory).
Some stiff cardboard or corrugated (fluted) cardboard
Some fabric or leather
Any old stuff will do for the cover. I have used the fabric from some old pairs of trousers that were being thrown out (actually nothing gets thrown out in my house, just put to one side for later use). But you could use a bit of leather, some old curtains, cushion covers…etc etc, I’m sure you get the idea.
Step 1: Stack your paper neatly in (at least 4) piles of 8 sheets
You can use just plain paper or paper upon which you have already printed a header and footer (remember to get this the right way round and remember that there will be 4 headers and four footers per sheet of paper.
If you want to mix in different papers then remember that they will appear further into the book as well. (don’t worry, this all becomes obvious as we go through the project).
Step 2: Fold each stack in half
Step 3: Unfold the paper and turn over
Step 4: Staple the pages together
Place the upturned paper stack on top of an eraser (positioned where you want to staple – which will be about two inches (5 cm) from the edge of the page exactly on the crease) and slowly but firmly push down on the stapler until you have stapled through the pages.
Turn the pages over, pull off the eraser and then fold over the staple ends with the blunt end of a dinner knife or your thumb nail, being careful not to break it / stab yourself.
Repeat at the other end of the crease so that each page has just two staples in it.
If you, like me, have a long arm stapler, simply staple the eight sheet stack in two places… I knew there was a good reason for borrowing that thing from work.
Step 5: Glue the binding onto the folios
Hold the folios tightly together and all lined up. Either get a friend to help or clip the folios together using giant paper clips or bull dog clips (or even a rubber band I guess).
When they are all nicely aligned apply glue to just the spines of the folios. You can use white glue for this (this was what white glue was originally made for BTW) but you must be careful not to let it drip down in to the gaps between the folios (maybe painting the fabric would be better.) Alternatively you can use hot melt for this part. Again, hot melt is used in industry for book binding, so it is perfect for the job.
Before it has a chance to set, quickly turn over the wad of folios and glue them to the piece of fabric so that some fabric sticks out each side (i.e. so that not all of the fabric is glued to the pages)
Step 6: Trim the bound folios
If you want to trim, then the most important edge to trim is the edge opposite the binding, because when the paper is folded over all the pages get to be slightly different lengths depending on where they are in the folio stack.
The trick is to hold the rule very steady and take many repeated cuts being careful to cut in the same groove and try to make sure that at each cut the paper on at least one layer is cut from edge to edge. (BTW I know that the drawing I have done to illustrate this step does not show this method of trimming multiple sheets, but it is meant to be a bit figurative anyway).
If you have access to a proper guillotine that can cut through paper stacks (i.e. at work or at school) then this is the time to use that, it will give you the most awesome finish).
Trimming is by no means necessary.
Trimming or not, you have now finished the paper part of the book and it’s time to move on to the cover…
Step 7: Mark and cut out the cover boards
Corrugated card is fine as the cover, as is thin foam core (foamboard), but the best kind of card is the stiff card that is used as the backing for drawing and sketching pads.
Step 8: Make the book spine
Step 9: Mark and cut the material
As already mentioned, you can use any material you want really, although very thick material will be difficult to fold and glue (but hey, who knows how patient and skilled you are?).
Actually, I used material from a pair of my ex-wife’s linen (Toast) trousers, thought I might give her the book as a Christmas present in an ironic sort of way… don’t worry only joking and she had thrown them out anyway…
Step 10: Glue the cover board and spine in place
Step 11: Finish the edges of the cover
Step 12: Glue the paper into the covers
Then place the bound paper wad so that it is centrally resting on the spine board and ONLY the thin cotton “wings” are glued to the cover boards.
The spine should NOT be glued to the cotton-covered bound paper wad, although you should make sure that it IS properly glued to the cover boards right up to their edges, because this is the join that makes the book strong and stops the page block falling out of the cover.
It is best if you wait for this part to dry before moving on to the next step. It is probably a good idea to leave the book lying on its back with the paper was supported by to food cans while it dries, because, if you leave it to dry closed, bits of it might stick together that you don’t want sticking together.
Step 13: Cut out your lining paper
Ideally, you want the lining paper to be a fraction smaller than the paper wad’s height so that you can line it up neatly and twice as long as the paper wad’s width so that it covers the inside of the hard cover. (See next step).
Step 14: Glue the lining in place
Carefully place one half of the folded lining paper on the glued first page so that it lines up neatly with the edge of the paper. Then making sure that it goes in to the corner of the join between the paper and the cover, fold the liner out and glue it to the inside of the cover so that it covers up all the folded over material and the inside of the cardboard covers.
Repeat for the back of the book.
That’s it… you’re done!
If the first paper goes a bit wrinkly as it dries out, wait for at least a day for it to dry really thoroughly and then iron over the page using a medium hot iron. It won’t get all the wrinkles out but it will make the page a whole lot flatter and just try to use a bit less glue for the next book.
Credit: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-bind-your-own-Hardback-Book/?ALLSTEPS