Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/320

292 indicated by the marks upon the paper strip and measure the size for the cloth for the cover, which size should be about ¾ inch larger all around than the outer measurements of the boards as shown in Fig. 8. Buckram is usually the only cloth suitable for covers that can be found in small cities. It should be of good quality and color. Thin, split leather can be handled the same as cloth.

Having cut the cloth for the cover, lay it right-side down upon the table, and upon it lay the cover boards. Carefully arrange in position with the measured distance between them and mark around their edges with a pencil, marking upon the buckram. Remove the boards from the cloth. Lay one board upon a piece of waste paper and brush hot glue over it and replace and press it down upon the cloth cover in its final position, glued side down. Turn the cloth cover and the attached board over, spread over them a clean cloth and finish the pressing with a flatiron which should not be too hot. Press around the edges of the board as well as over its face. Proceed in the same way with the other cover-board.

Trim the projecting edges of the cloth all around to about ½ or ⅝ inch from the boards. Cut the corners from the cloth as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8. Do not cut the corners close to the board but leave about ⅛ inch of cloth and be careful to make the cuts at an angle of 45 degrees.

Brush the glue upon the projecting cloth along the top edge of the cover and fold the cloth over upon the boards. Glue and fold the cloth at the lower edge in the same way. Before folding the cloth at the front edges, fold in a little corner of the corner cloth as along the dotted line Fig. 9.

Place the book between its cover and carefully adjust it to its final position. Lightly mark around the four front corners of the leaves of the book, marking the buckram to show where the book should lie within its cover. When all work is finished the marks may be erased. Lay the book upon the table and open the top cover back upon it as in Fig. 10.

Take a sheet of waste paper larger than the book and slip it beneath the end paper to protect the book from glue. Throw the strip of backing cloth and the cords backward and quickly brush the hot glue over the end paper. Fold the cords over upon the end paper, taking care to spread their ends open as shown in the drawing and brush them down into place. Fold over the backing cloth and brush glue over it. Pass the smooth handle of the brush up and down over the backing cloth, and along the raised edge at the back to insure its contact with the book at this point.

Slip the fingers of the right hand beneath the front edge of the glued end paper and press down firmly upon the book to keep it from slipping out of place. With the left hand lift the cover, draw it snugly around the back of the book, hold it at an angle to allow room for the right hand and press the cover firmly into contact with the book all along by the back edge or joint. Remove the right hand from the book and lightly lower the cover upon it. Open the cover and proceed to press the end paper into smooth contact with the board. Upon opening the cover, if it is found that the book has shifted badly from position, it may be well to strip the end paper from the board and try again. This is a risky operation, however. Proceed in like manner with the opposite cover. When the covers are on, the edges of the flatiron or handle of the brush should be passed up and down along the depression at the joints of the book covers and the covers should be carefully opened and closed several times. The covers may be left slightly open while the glue is drying, or if they are closed, sheets of waxed paper or