Dropped $60 on a half-decent book press and it changed my whole binding game

I was using stacks of random heavy stuff for months and my spines always looked awful. Finally got a proper press from Talas and my corners actually line up now. Anyone else waste way too long before buying the right tool?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthews213d agoMost Upvoted

Haven't you just spent money on something that does the same thing as a stack of books with a bit of weight on top? I've been using a stack of encyclopedias and a cinder block for years and my spines come out straight every time. Honestly, I bet if you took the time to set up your weights right you'd get the same results for free. Ngl, I think people just like buying fancy tools rather than learning how to make cheap ones work.

riley_west3d ago

Not gonna lie, matthews21 makes a good point about weights working fine if you set them up right. The real difference with a proper press comes from the even pressure across the whole book block. Stacks of encyclopedias can leave gaps or uneven spots that mess with your spines, especially with thicker books or different paper types. A press just takes the guesswork out of it and gives you consistent results every time without having to fiddle with your setup.