Bookbinding Info & Building Plans
Bookbinding: the craft of making your own books. This is such a fun and interesting subject to get into. You can approach bookbinding from a really basic perspective, sewing some notebooks together using only a razorblade, an awl and some thread. Or you can go further, and invest in some tools and even build your own equipment.
If you’re interested in building your own tools we have a couple of different plans available that you can make yourself in your workshop.
In this combined bundle, you’ll get ALL of our bookbinding tool plans in order to build the following:
Book Press
Sewing Frame
Book Vise
Cutting Plough
All of the plans include cutlists, step by step instructions and helpful tips and information. The sewing frame also contain .svg files if you want to cut out those pieces on a CNC machine (or using traditional tools.)
For all of the tools you’ll need access to woodworking equipment as well as wood, glue, clamps etc…
For the press you’ll a press screw and a metal plate.
For the sewing frame, book vise and cutting plough you’ll also need access to a 1 1/2” tap and die set in order to make wooden screws.
For the cutting plough you’ll need a block plane blade.
More detailed information on what’s needed specifically can be found in each plan.
If you prefer, you can purchase each plan individually instead, however if you buy this bundle, you’ll get a discount
This guide will help you build a traditional wooden book press used for bookbinding. It features half-blind dovetails for strength and a heavy-duty press screw with single-lead Acme threads for the screwing/pressing mechanism.
Included in the plan:
cut lists
detailed step by step instructions
diagrams and images to clarify
To construct the main unit, you'll need a press screw and 2 inch (5 cm) thick wood. While slightly thinner wood can be used, the unit won't be as heavy and strong. We used white oak, a traditional choice for its durability. You will also need a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum (or steel) and some screws to assemble the screwing mechanism.
If you use a different type of press screw, you can still adapt the main principles of this design to fit the specifics of the materials you have on hand.
Build a traditional sewing frame for bookbinding with the help of this plan. The sewing frame consists of a base with upright wooden screws and a horizontal bar, allowing the user to align and secure the book sections during the sewing process.
There are two options to build several of the parts: regular woodworking equipment or a CNC machine. Included in this plan are .svg files, as well as cutlist, step by step instructions, information on how to create wooden screws and nuts and more.
This plan contains information on how to make TWO projects: 1) book vise + 2) cutting plough. The book vise is used throughout the bookbinding process to hold the booklet when performing various tasks. If you turn the vise around, then you can fit the cutting plough in a groove and use it to trim the sides of the book super clean.
Included in this plan:
Cutlists & step by step instructions for:
book vise
book plough
The book plough requires the vise in order to use it. You can choose to only build the vise, or build both projects.
To build the vise and the plough you’ll primarily need:
wood
1 1/2” tap and die set
a block plane blade
woodworking tools
Bookbinding Building Plans
In this combined bundle, you’ll get ALL of our bookbinding tool plans in order to build the following:
Book Press
Sewing Frame
Book Vise
Cutting Plough
All of the plans include cutlists, step by step instructions and helpful tips and information. The sewing frame also contain .svg files if you want to cut out those pieces on a CNC machine (or using traditional tools.)
For all of the tools you’ll need access to woodworking equipment as well as wood, glue, clamps etc…
For the press you’ll a press screw and a metal plate.
For the sewing frame, book vise and cutting plough you’ll also need access to a 1 1/2” tap and die set in order to make wooden screws.
For the cutting plough you’ll need a block plane blade.
More detailed information on what’s needed specifically can be found in each plan.
If you prefer, you can purchase each plan individually instead, however if you buy this bundle, you’ll get a discount
In our bookbinding plan bundle, you get access to all of the book-making plans:
Book press
Sewing frame
Book vise
Cutting Plough
All of the plans include cut lists, step by step instructions and helpful tips and information.
If you’re planning on building all the tools for your own personal bindery, then this is the plan for you!
This guide will help you build a traditional wooden book press used for bookbinding. It features half-blind dovetails for strength and a heavy-duty press screw with single-lead Acme threads for the screwing/pressing mechanism.
Included in the plan:
cut lists
detailed step by step instructions
diagrams and images to clarify
To construct the main unit, you'll need a press screw and 2 inch (5 cm) thick wood. While slightly thinner wood can be used, the unit won't be as heavy and strong. We used white oak, a traditional choice for its durability. You will also need a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum (or steel) and some screws to assemble the screwing mechanism.
If you use a different type of press screw, you can still adapt the main principles of this design to fit the specifics of the materials you have on hand.
Perhaps the most frequently used tool when it comes to bookbinding? It features half-blind dovetails for strength and a heavy-duty press screw with single-lead Acme threads for the screwing/pressing mechanism.
Included in the plan:
cut lists
detailed step by step instructions
diagrams and images to clarify
Build a traditional sewing frame for bookbinding with the help of this plan. The sewing frame consists of a base with upright wooden screws and a horizontal bar, allowing the user to align and secure the book sections during the sewing process.
There are two options to build several of the parts: regular woodworking equipment or a CNC machine. Included in this plan are .svg files, as well as cutlist, step by step instructions, information on how to create wooden screws and nuts and more.
Build a traditional sewing frame for bookbinding with the help of this plan. The sewing frame consists of a base with upright wooden screws and a horizontal bar, allowing the user to align and secure the book sections during the sewing process.
Included in the plan:
cut lists
detailed step by step instructions
.svg files if you want to cut out pieces using a CNC
This plan contains information on how to make TWO projects: 1) book vise + 2) cutting plough. The book vise is used throughout the bookbinding process to hold the booklet when performing various tasks. If you turn the vise around, then you can fit the cutting plough in a groove and use it to trim the sides of the book super clean.
Included in the plan:
cut lists
detailed step by step instructions
diagrams and images to clarify
This plan contains information on how to make TWO projects: 1) book vise + 2) cutting plough. The book vise is used throughout the bookbinding process to hold the booklet when performing various tasks. If you turn the vise around, then you can fit the cutting plough in a groove and use it to trim the sides of the book super clean.
Included in this plan:
Cutlists & step by step instructions for:
book vise
book plough
The book plough requires the vise in order to use it. You can choose to only build the vise, or build both projects.
To build the vise and the plough you’ll primarily need:
wood
1 1/2” tap and die set
a block plane blade
woodworking tools
Bookbinding Tools & Materials (affiliate)
Here are some of our favorite materials and tools related to bookbinding that we recommend.
To gain more information about the tools and the process, here are some videos relating to the subject.