How To Repair Damaged Leather Bible Cover

how-to-repair-a-bible — One of the Bibles I'one thousand working on by Pr. James Madden

Small Repairs and Large ones likewise..

There is not much in this life that I discover more satisfaction in than repairing an otherwise proficient bible that has become worn beyond applied use... You know the kind... the text is good.. the pages marked with all of your favorite notes from many years of written report... but the Binding or spine has been compromised...

Well if you have a little craft power and can follow some unproblematic instructions you volition be able to repair that bible in a short period of time and know that it will still provide you years of Good apply!!!

Advisedly Disassemble the book

Use a Exact-o knife or a pair of pair of scissors to cutting the cover from the content and brand bare the areas of the comprehend that need to be re glued.

Disassembly of Bible

Use a sharp Knife or scissors to separate the Bible into its basic parts. — Use a abrupt Knife or pair of scissors to separate the Bible into its basic parts.

James Madden

assess where you will need to glue. — assess where you will demand to glue.

James Madden

Spread the glue out evenly... fingers work great for this, but keep a damp sponge handy. — Spread the gum out evenly... fingers work smashing for this, but keep a clammy sponge handy.

James Madden

Gluing

Examine the damage and mucilage the beginning side... spread the gum to contact all of the area you wish to glue. Utilize a "White Glue" that is Plastic based. It is easier to make clean upwardly with a damp sponge and makes an first-class clear bail.

Spread the Glue with a finger and so printing the paper back into its position... Clean up extra that oozes out with a slightly damp sponge and then exercise the other side...

At present Pile some Books on it to go on it pressed and brand a good glue Bond.

clean up with a damp sponge is easy... but not too damp... you don't want to WET your Bible now do you? — clean upwards with a clammy sponge is easy... merely not likewise damp... yous don't want to WET your Bible now do you?

James Madden

Now Glue the other side the same as the first side. — Now Gum the other side the same as the beginning side.

James Madden

Smooth out the Glue — Smooth out the Gum

James Madden

Smooth the paper back into the proper position and work the excess glue out... clean up with damp sponge. — Smooth the paper dorsum into the proper position and piece of work the backlog glue out... clean up with damp sponge.

James Madden

Pressing the Gum

After the Glue is applied Pile on the books to Press the Cover Flat, and now your ready to wait for it to dry... — Afterwards the Glue is practical Pile on the books to Press the Comprehend Flat, and at present your ready to wait for it to dry...

James Madden

Making the Splint

Scroll to Proceed

After splint is positioned. Check its size again and make sure it is straight. — After splint is positioned. Check its size over again and make sure information technology is straight.

James Madden

Cut a leather Binding Splint

A Scrap of Medium thickness leather (2-3mm) is a adept choice at this betoken for a repair to a cleaved spine.

For a Very thick volume like a Large Bible with built in study and helps sections yous may desire to opt for the full thickness leather (4mm-5mm).

The thicker leather makes sure that the spine will not break in the center once more (a common problem with old bibles) Just information technology is harder to piece of work with.

With Thicker Leather comes a problem of Cutting information technology to shape. Yous may need to use a Jigsaw (or whatever you accept handy).

Cut the Leather to shape but make sure that it is slightly SMALLER than the spine you are repairing. Remember that you will be reinstalling the same Comprehend and that whatsoever size increment volition "Shorten" the cover itself.

This appearance can be covered up nicely with a Full Leather Comprehend and Closure Strap if you lot choose that pick.

leather splint changes things

In this picture notice the Leather Splint is a thick one... and notice also that the paper of the Bible is now protruding from the cover by the same distance as the Splint is thick. This may Necesitate the making of a New Outer Cover for the Bible... — In this picture discover the Leather Splint is a thick ane... and notice likewise that the newspaper of the Bible is at present protruding from the cover by the aforementioned distance every bit the Splint is thick. This may Necesitate the making of a New Outer Encompass for the Bible...

James Madden

Bible with Total Leather Cover and Closure Strap

Two finished Bibles: The one on the Left is with a metal Lock and closing strap. The one at Right is the Bible worked on in this tutorial

James Madden

Gluing in the Binding Splint

For this Gluing y'all will want to use a good quality Contact Cement. (Don`t sniff the fumes)

Apply the cement to both the rough side of the Leather Splint (Rough goes within of leather toward the pages) and apply another coat of Glue to the spine of the bible itself evenly cover the paper and binding record.

Wait x minutes or so (read the directions on the side of the Contact Cement)

When yous printing the Leather to the Bounden employ a Wooden Rod or Mallet to beat the leather... The contact cement is strong glue.. only proportional to the force per unit area applied when the 2 parts are placed together. ~Spank information technology~ The pressure involved with the rod or mallet being properly applied to the binding will brand the mucilage form an extremely solid bond.

But Alert: Do Not smack your finger tips in the process... trust me information technology hurts... but take my word for information technology...

New Liner

About this signal in that location is a small mater of the within of the cover possibly looking shabby from tears and gluing...

You can take a peace of Cardstock (often sold for printers equally Couche or Photo Paper.

Unremarkably information technology is most 180 gram weight and makes for a nice finishing touch to the within of encompass if done properly. You can get this type of paper in printed pasterns and colors also.

Accept the paper and fold it in half.

Lay it inside the book tight to the spine and close the book... utilize the outside of the cover equally a guide for cartoon the shape to be cut.

You lot will want to cutting Within the Line by approximately i/iv inch (6mm)

Gum the liner within the cover and go out the other one-half of the paper to exist a first blank folio inside the bible...

I will sometimes even add a few bare pages at the front end or dorsum or even add my ain notes and helps section pages... Depends on how much room you accept inside the cover.

Contact cement both surfaces Wait for it to dry... 10 minutes or so... — Contact cement both surfaces Await for it to dry... ten minutes or so...

James Madden

Whacking it... Be careful of your fingers!!! — Whacking information technology... Be conscientious of your fingers!!!

James Madden

Align with the Cover and apply the contact cement

James Madden

Careful alignment BEFORE allowing the two parts of the glue to connect. — Careful alignment BEFORE assuasive the two parts of the glue to connect.

James Madden

Beat it.... Not your fingers. — Beat it.... Non your fingers.

James Madden

Beat it from several different directions and use the rod to Press and Smooth the cover into the right shape... not off centered etc. — Crush information technology from several different directions and use the rod to Press and Smoothen the comprehend into the right shape... not off centered etc.

James Madden

Re-Attach Cover

Using the same Contact Cement, carefully apply the cement to both the spine and the centre function of the cover that you want to glue. Exercise not go the glue all over the place if you can help it...

Place the cover on a flat surface and and so Carefully position the Book before touching the ii sides together....

~Wait~ for the Glue to be ready earlier putting the ii pieces together.

Again Use the Rod or Mallet to make sure the Glue gets a proficient beating and forms a slap-up Bond.

Concluding Product

You can be creative with other cover designs etc... But more on that later... — You lot tin can be creative with other embrace designs etc... But more on that later...

James Madden

Cull your Comprehend Material

If you lot take a local leather shop (Like Tandy Leather-arts and crafts) you can unremarkably choose from a wide diversity of Natural and Patterned leathers. Some are colored, Some are Exotic (usually sparse notwithstanding) and others that are thicker can be tooled with names, Pictures and Titles etc.

You have a peachy deal of latitude when making your own Cover... Even the style can be of your own invention.. Just use some imagination and yous volition practise but fine.

If you practise not have a Leather shop nearby.... in that location are as well other options... You can sometimes find Recyclable Leather at Second hand stores in the grade of sometime Pants, Jackets and purses that can be cut upward and put to a better use.

You tin can also Cull to utilize Denim, or some Military Camouflage patern if you lot similar... (my wife and daughter prefer flowery cloth prints)

Cut the Leather Cover

Mark your piece of material using the old cover for a template.

Mark the New Embrace LARGER than the Onetime one... Especially Longer!!

Think that if you cut the piece exactly the same size, information technology volition be too short when placed on the Outside of the Closed Cover.

Your New Leather Encompass should exist cutting Slightly Larger than the former cover so that you not only take plenty of room for Gluing but that information technology will properly fit when the book is closed...

Utilize a Square and make certain your lines y'all are drawing are perfectly squared (at 90 caste angles)

If your piece of Leather is not with Squared ends compared to the staight sides.. you volition have a mess when you endeavor to glue it in place.

Once y'all have the piece properly drawn out and Cut, Place it on the bible and play with it a niggling bit.. brand sure the margins are large plenty and you lot tin can properly film it where y'all desire information technology.

Now Mark it. Marking the acme, lesser and end lines and then that you will have a reference when you are set up to mucilage.

Are you going to add a Closure Strap??? Peradventure a Buckle??

Now is the time to do whatsoever leather piece of work of this sort before you lot Glue the Cover onto the bible.

Glue on Leather Cover

The New Leather Cover is now Glued onto the Outside of the old bible Comprehend.

Yes you could do away with the old encompass... Just usually exercise non.

The old Cover makes a great base to Adhere the New Comprehend to... and in the end you have a much more durable cover than y'all would take otherwise.

Once more yous will exist using Contact Cement (and volition need to wait some minutes and so beat it etc...)

cbates on July 01, 2022:

Hello MrMaranatha,

I sent you a email message asking for advice on repairing a 97 yr old Bible. My electronic mail business relationship begins with cbates.

Thanks Corbin

mikala croteau on September xvi, 2022:

at this time I haven't started my bible is just i twelvemonth one-time can I just employ a hot glue gun to glue it together?

Jay C OBrien from Houston, TX Us on May 22, 2022:

This is a very good and applied guide for repairing a book. Still, I recollect it is more important to consider what is in the book and what it stands for. I therefore offer the post-obit article to "Repair" the Bible.

https://find.hubpages.com/organized religion-philosophy/...

Kay Plumondore on May 04, 2022:

I need to rebind a hard encompass bible for a Moose Guild that I vest to and need to know what specific materials you used? Information technology'south in good status other then the binding. Any assist would exist greatly appreciated. Give thanks you

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the third globe. on March 08, 2022:

Madden-Brazil@Hotmail.com

I know how information technology is to go fastened to a perticular form of Bible...

Personally Im King James Version all the way.

Krispix on March 06, 2022:

Hullo! I don't know if you are still fifty-fifty receiving notifications on this post. I am deciding whether it'southward worth information technology to repair my good old NKJV wide margin center reference Bible. I am because purchasing a new Bible instead just can't afford to practise a direct replacement, because new ones are over $200. I don't HAVE to become that version, but I'thou very visual, I'yard used to that version and I like the layout. Is there a identify I could email or post a photo to become your opinion on whether it'due south worth the effort?

Xexilia on December 13, 2022:

Thanky Thanky for all this good inootmarifn!

MrMaranatha (writer) from Somewhere in the third world. on Nov 04, 2022:

Thanks!!!

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the third world. on November 04, 2022:

That is what I would practice.. use the spinal backing to re-join the ii sections and brand the whole book i unit of measurement once again. You tin can use a cloth like ticking or a leather...

ideadesigns on September 08, 2022:

Peachy tutorial on repairing an old bible. Mine has marks and notes and would want to keep it if information technology ever got that bad. I appreciate the work you went through to have the photos and to detail each step. Great page!

Debby brown on November 18, 2022:

The book function of my bible has come apart into two parts. Splittling at the book of marking. Volition i do the repair the same as you lot described here?

Mickie'southward Petty Ruby Carriage from The Due south on November 02, 2022:

Interesting repair to a Bible. Good photos.

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the third world. on September 29, 2022:

Need to bear witness me what your working with.. can you email me a photo or two of what you are looking at?

the_fur_elise@yahoo.con on September 29, 2022:

I have my Fathers Bible from when he was a child, he passed away Aug. five, 2022. I want to ready it, but wondering what is the all-time mucilage to use that won't go out bumps under the Leather. Thank You Roberta Elise Briscoe ( Bakker)

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the 3rd world. on December xiv, 2022:

Ok... Here is the bargain: For almost considerations Information technology looks similar information technology is a normal bible.

It is A Normal Bible that has had two very pretty wooden covers "Contact Cemented" to the outside of a normal cover...

From the photo I can't tell if that is Bonded Leather or Existent leather underneath the woods but it really doesn't matter.

What matters is that the spine part is notwithstanding in fairly proficient looking shape. You tin can bring this i back to looking almost original if your careful.

Steps: Need to carefully dissever the ii comprehend Parts from the Bible itself and set them aside. The Forepart Cover and Spine are 1 piece and the Back Cover is a dissever piece.

Get some plain but sort of Paper thin leather and put a New Encompass on the Bible as I showed in the photos...

(The kind of leather that is commonly used to make dash boards and door liners in cars... they glue it to a press-board backing... you never realize its only ane.5 - 2mm or and so thick until you lot work with it... If y'all get the right kind... it is pretty tough stuff and will brand a great backing for what we are about to exercise.)

Subsequently you are finished giving the Bible the "New leather Cover"... Yous can and so carefully Add the Original Embrace back to the outside Using Contact Cement.

Leave the Original leather or Bonded Leather inside the wood...

and go out the HOLY BIBLE Spine part attached where it is connected to the Forepart Cover.

When you go to add the Original Cover... Beginning with the Spine... Glue it get-go...

And then do the front embrace that is fastened to the spine... and after you are washed with that, you can carefully mate the Back encompass to the spine...

Plan your work ahead... and do not use Glue until you are sure you have it right.

Brand sure y'all Crease the New Leather Comprehend on both sides of the spine (Tight to the spine) before trying to add the old cover dorsum on...

You need to keep the spine as tight as possible so that the spine does not "Abound on y'all" making the Newly Re-installed Cover a loose fit with a gap between the spine and back cover.

Let me know if you lot accept whatsoever questions...

Jim

steve on December 10, 2022:

Hello, I own a very beloved and old olive woods comprehend bible. could you give me some ideas. The wood has torn off with the leather spine

I know that if I had the spine with the overlaping material i could glue on new inside stock. what exercise yous suggest. But I like that it says Jerusalem and holy bible on the spine whatever hints ?

Thank yous in advance

sikoras@bellsouth.net

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the third world. on May 03, 2022:

My reason for using a thick leather splint was the repair of the Crease down the centre of the material spine. It will never crease there over again... But you may have a indicate with keeping to a more original look/experience etc. Thanks for stopping past!!!

More than about PVA mucilage: http://www.earmark-decorative-painting-studio.com/...

And if you find... in that location is a large bottle of PVA Mucilage in the background of the photos.. I employ it destine as well...

Mickie's Little Ruddy Wagon from The South on Apr 25, 2022:

Instead of using a leather splint, I similar to use fabric on the signatures if they are loose. I prefer PVA mucilage which has seemed to hold up fine.

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the third earth. on June 02, 2022:

If y'all run into trouble let me know at what point and take a pic of information technology... so I can run across what yous are dealing with...

North Wind from The World (for at present) on June 02, 2022:

OK but only if it comes out right :) I'll probably try to do one this weekend, gingerly following your instructions :)

MrMaranatha (author) from Somewhere in the 3rd world. on June 02, 2022:

When you lot go done with yours take a film and send it to me... Perhaps I can add some Photos to the commodity from people who have used it to do their ain... Sounds like a fun addition to my articles:-) A Nosotros Done it Section:-)

Northward Wind from The World (for now) on May 29, 2022:

I accept a Bible, really ii, that need to be fixed like this and I was thinking of going to a book folder but now that I see your instructions, I am definitely going to try this. Thanks!

MrMaranatha (writer) from Somewhere in the 3rd world. on May 02, 2022:

Im sorry.. I am literally working on this hub article at this moment... like doing the Bible repair and taking the pictures as Im working... come back tomarrow afternoon ok??? Thank you:-)

Catherine Tally from Los Angeles on May 02, 2022:

Stride-by-footstep pictures would accept helped a lot. Still, this was a very useful hub. Thanks!

Source: https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/How-to-repair-a-Bible

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