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Here comes Fall!

 

 

 

Related Link:

Bookbinding and Repair

Introducing our improved Volcano Arts Folder!
Won't glaze paper. Comfortable to use. Glue won't stick to it. Made of state-of-art Teflon. Fold an entire signature at once (really!). Fold the heaviest or the most delicate papers. Every angle engineered for bookbinding and box making. Available exclusively from Volcano Arts.

Beginning | Book Board | Book Cloth | Full Spools of 4-Ply Waxed Binder's Thread
Binding Thread and Samplers | Clasps and Furnishings | Cutting | Punching
Folding and Burnishing | Sewing | Measuring | Gluing
Snaps and Rivets | Screw Posts

 Beginning

Bookbinder's Toolkit:
Now you or a friend can get into the art and craft of bookbinding by buying the Beginner's Toolkit. It comes with the basic tools you'll need to complete our kits or to make books from 'scratch.' When you buy the kit you'll get 10% off the individual item price (limited time only).

Bookbinder's Toolkit Level 1
$28.45 Take 10% off
$26.00

Bookbinder's Toolkit Level 2
$48.45 Take 10% off
$44.00

Bookbinder's Toolkit Level 3
$58.45 Take 10% off
$53.00

Assembly Upgrade for Hole Punching Cradle
(shipped flat)
$7.00

 

Level 1

  • Light Duty Awl
  • Glue Brush
  • Standard Hole Punching Cradle
    (assembly upgrade $5.00*)
  • 6" Bone Folder
  • Large Eye Needle
  • 1 oz. Bar Beeswax

Level 2

  • Everything in Level 1
  • 1 Set Brass Rules

Level 3

  • Everything in Levels 1 and 2
  • Book Board Assortment (enough to make 2 books 8 3/4" X 5 3/4" and 2 books 5 3/4" X 4 1/2")

* The cradle is not generally difficult to assemble, however you will need to cut 2 slits in dense book board. People who have difficulty with this task should consider the assembly upgrade and we'll take care of everything for you.

Folding
Volcano Arts Folder
This folder is made out of state-of-the-art Teflon® and is so comfortable to use for folding and compressing signatures and manipulating paper on boxes and books. Glue won't stick to it, and it's refined enough for folding delicate papers and origami. It's heavier than a bone folder and makes folding heavier papers like handmade, cardstock or watercolor paper a LOT easier.

$27.00

A note from Christine Cox:
I have completely redesigned the Volcano Arts Folder. It has angles engineered for getting into corners and small areas and now it's even more comfortable to hold. It's perfect for bookbinding and also for box making, origami, pergamano and pottery!


Recommended by Bookbinding Instructor (and wonderful artist), Michael Jacobs!
"It's a wonderful tool
. I use it exclusively for creasing and burnishing."

Every angle of this tool was designed by bookbinder Christine Cox. This is the BEST tool for folding heavier papers and cardstock. Now you can easily fold several sheets of text weight paper at once!


Click the image above to see a drawing showing how the tool is held

* Teflon® has the lowest coefficient of friction (.21) of any material on Earth. That means that there is as little abrasion on the paper as is physically possible.

Don't abuse your new tool:
This is a finely hand-crafted tool meant for bookbinding and other non-destructive processes only.  Do not use it with copper mesh or other hard or sharp materials. As with any handmade tool, please allow for small differences. This product is warranted for manufacturing defects but not for damage caused by misuse. Used correctly, this may be the last folder you ever have to buy.


Classic Bone Folder
$7.50

Bone Folder
This classic genuine bone is for folding paper, smoothing, turning in and compressing. It has a million uses!

While my Volcano Arts Folder is my absolute favorite tool for folding signatures and for box making, I couldn't make a leather book without also using my Classic Bone Folder. I'm a firm believer that there isn't just one tool for all the different folding and burnishing tasks done while making a book.  -- Christine Cox

Wooden Folding Rib (4 1/4" long)
This frugal artist's wooden folding tool is a great shape for smoothing paper and cloth when making boxes and books. Lots of different surfaces make any job possible; beveled edge, pointed tip, rounded butt, long edge, short edge. It even has a hole in it for comfortable handling and for hanging when not in use. What more can you ask from one tool?

$6.00


Learn how to 'tune up' your wooden folding rib in our Idea Center.

 Book Cloth
Colors may appear different on your monitor. May we suggest that you buy our Book Cloth Swatch Sheet?

Japanese Book Cloth 1

  • All of our high quality book cloth is made in Japan

  • Colors may appear differently on your monitor. Please allow for variations.

  • Size is 20" X 36"

$7.00 / yard


Black
Dusty Plum
Navy Blue
Tobacco
Premium Japanese Book Cloth 2
  • All of our high quality book cloth is made in Japan

  • Colors may appear differently on your monitor. Please allow for variations.

  • Size is 20" X 36"

 

$13.00 / yard


 

Cappuccino Tan

 

Premium Japanese Book Cloth 3
 
  • All of our high quality book cloth is made in Japan

  • Colors may appear differently on your monitor. Please allow for variations.

  • Size is 20" X 36"

$15.00 / yard


 

Cream Linen

Acanthus

 

Moiré Book Cloth
This gorgeous moiré fabric has a sprayed moisture barrier on the back and is perfect for covering your most elegant books and boxes. The colors are rich and vibrant.
~24" X 37" (including selvedge)
Colors may appear different on your monitor. May we suggest that you buy our Book Cloth Swatch Sheet?

$20.00/yard



Dark Royal
Our most popular color


Ming Red


Beaujolais


Wedgwood

Book Cloth Swatch Sheet
Care to see all the colors of our book cloth? We'll send you a swatch sheet with every color in stock on it. Free domestic shipping. International orders will be charged $2.00 shipping.

Book Cloth Swatch Sheet
$1.50

International customers, we will contact you by email before shipping your order for payment of the shipping amount on this item.

Check out the tips and information about Book Cloth in our Idea Center


Christine Cox 8/04
Braided Spine Journal Kit

This is great! I really appreciate how helpful and flexible you are. I see the beginning of a long working relationship...  :)
-- Kaidra

 

 Binder's Thread

Note: Colors on your monitor will be different than real life. Please allow for differences.

Related Link:

New! 12-Ply Waxed Binder's Thread
For use as raised supports in sewing books or for basket weaving, this 12-ply thread is very thick. It is waxed Irish linen thread and coordinates with the corresponding colors of 4-Ply Thread that we carry.
10 yards

$6.00



Here I've used our 2-ply Waxed Linen Thread to sew over double 12-Ply Linen Thread supports.

There's a photo of another beautiful book with raised bands on the spine


Black


Butterscotch


Christine Cox 8/07
This full goat leather book was sewn over our 12-Ply Waxed Linen Thread. The inlay on the front is sterling silver and enamel.

4-Ply Waxed Thread Color Samplers

Our linen samplers are made of 2 yards each of 4-ply waxed Irish linen thread in the 3 colors noted. They are color coordinated so that you can use them in separate books or in the same book.

Depending on the size and stitch of your book, each sampler has enough thread to make as many as 3 books (or more if you are making miniatures).

You'll find full spools of thread here

$5.00


Elegance: Elegance is all about style; black, charcoal gray and slate gray

Stars and Stripes: Yep, it's patriotic red, white and blue!

Wine Country: The colors of the wine country; burgundy, leaf green and plum

In Your Words
I can't believe what a great website...I am very anxious to try my hand at bookbinding and I am extremely impressed with your supply of tools. VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!
-- V. (by email)

Jewel: Dark, rich jewel-tone colors; blue, forest green and dark rust

Tropicana: You can just feel those island breezes; teal, salmon and sunshine

Idaho: The colors of Idaho; sky blue, sand and sage brush

Fall Leaves: Wonderful earth tones; rust, butterscotch and dark brown

Southwest: Warm colors of the desert; rose, turquoise and lavender

The Blues: A range of blues from light to dark

 

Return to Top

Light, un-waxed Linen Thread
Acid Free, unbleached and uncolored - perfect for case-bound and other covered spine books.
Approximately 50 yards, 3-ply

25 grams / $10.00


Christine Cox 8/07
I wanted this miniature book sewn with proportionately light thread so I used our 3-ply Unwaxed Thread and waxed it with Beeswax. The book is The Language of Selected Flowers and Plants. The covers are enameled copper and the spine is goat skin.
(1-13/16" H X 2" W)

2-Ply Waxed Linen Thread
For those times when you don't need the bulk of a thicker thread, we now carry 2-ply waxed Irish linen thread. It's perfect for cased-in books. ~100 yards

50 grams / $14.50

Clasps and Furnishings

3/4" Bone Clasps
The perfect touch for a closure on a delicate box or book. Our high quality clasps are handmade of bone and have a very finished look to them. Japan

2 / $3.50

1-1/4" Black Buffalo Bone Clasps
These beautiful black bone clasps are such a complement to the richer colors you use when making boxes and books. Use them as lid pins on boxes or as closures on books.

2 / $8.00

Book Corners
Beautiful metal corners protect the corners of your precious (or just cool and good looking) books. Simply place them where you want them and then gently tap them with a mallet. We recommend a Rawhide or Poly Mallet, but your steel hammer will work in a pinch (just be sure to protect the corners with a piece of leather or something). Engraved Silver Plate, Brass or Nickel Silver.

$5.50 / 4



Nickel Silver

Brass

Engraved Silver Plate
Sewing  

I LOVE looking at all the ideas on your site and recommended it to my fellow students in my "Book Arts" class. -- Judy S.

 

Binding Needles
Ideal for bookbinding, these needles are super strong and have extra large eyes so that they won't strip the wax off your thread. They are slightly blunted at the tip so that you won't pierce your paper. We've had reports that in classrooms full of bent needles, ours held up.
2 1/8" Long

6 / $6.00

1 / $1.25

Curved Sewing Needles (2 1/2" diameter)
Some people swear by a curved needle for sewing link stitches (i.e. Coptic). These curved needles are high quality English.

2 / $3.00

Endband (AKA 'Headband')
Black and white endband sold by the foot. Ours are silk threads woven onto string or cane centers and fastened to cotton tape. Overall width is approx. 5/8". Use them at the head and tail of your cased in books for a finished look that will keep dust out of the spine. Also great when making altered books for a nice detail.

$2.00/ft.



Brown/Ivory

Black/White

Green/Yellow
Mull (Super)
A sized cotton 'cheesecloth' used for lining spines and connecting cover boards. Standard weave. Use it when sewing over tapes or when you just need extra strength. Can also be used to strengthen joint when making album or stab-bound books.

$1.30 / Approx. 12" X 14"

Artificial Sinew
Use artificial sinew for sewing your coolest books, especially those over raised supports. We carry it in a 20 yd. bobbin in either black or natural (shown).

$4.00
20 yd. Bobbin


Screw Posts
Aluminum Screw Posts
Beautiful wedding albums, guest books and photo albums are bound using these aluminum screw posts. They are reusable so that you can add and remove pages from your album whenever you need to. It's the easiest way to bind a book! 3 sizes available.

We now carry a 5mm tip for our Japanese Screw Punch. It's just the right size for screw posts!

Screw Post Extensions (1/2" aluminum)
Has your photo collection outstripped the length of the screw posts in your album? We now carry 1/2" Screw Post Extensions to make your albums 1/2" thicker. Can be used with our Floral Screw Posts as well as with our Aluminum Screw Posts.

$4.00 / 10

  • 1/2"

  • 3/4"

  • 1"

10 / $4.00


Gold Floral Screw Posts (1/2" only)
Add a little prettiness to your screw post album. These posts have a tiny little flower on the head. It may be just what you need for that final touch. Made of base metal. Can be used with our aluminum Screw Post Extensions to add 1/2" length.

10 / $3.50

Gluing


No boiling necessary

We have recipes and tips for using our methylcel

Methyl Cellulose
This powder mixes easily with cold water and with PVA and other adhesives. It is non-staining, will not discolor paper, will not decompose in dry or liquid state and is not affected by heat or freezing. Forms a highly flexible bond but is a weak adhesive by itself. Great for increasing open time when using PVA (it dries slowly so you have more time to work). It's perfect for making paste papers and some people use it for a marbling size.
Viscosity: 1900-2200 cps, pH 7.0.

1/4 lb. / $6.50

PVA Adhesive
Acid free bookbinding glue. We are very proud of the quality of our adhesive and of our bottles. We pay a little extra for an easy-pour top which can be cut down to pour at the rate that you want. No little dishes lying around with dried up adhesive in the bottom!

5 oz. / $6.50

8 oz. / $8.50

32 oz. Refill
$16.00

We cannot guarantee PVA if it freezes so we recommend not purchasing it outside California between 11/1 and 4/1. If you order it we will ship it, we just can't guarantee it.

Our 5 oz. and 8 oz. come in squeeze bottles with easy-pour tops. Our 32 oz. refill size comes with a plain screw top.

  • No Solvents

  • pH neutral

  • We have tips and Technical information for our PVA and methylcel

Note: PVA will last much longer if you keep the cap on (even the little red cap on the smaller bottles).

Cheap Glue Brush
These are 1" brushes with wooden handles. They are great for casual bookbinding and cheap enough to consider disposable.

90˘

Sally Monahan has a great tip for us: Buy 2 brushes and cut the bristles on one down to about 1" long. Now you have a short, stiff brush for pounding glue between signatures as well as your longer bristled, general purpose glue brush.

Linen Binding Tape
3/8" wide - Unbleached and un-sized for hinging, sewing and tying. Perfect for case bound books. Now available in 5' lengths for a discount!

70% linen, 30% Cotton

1 Foot / $1.40

5 Foot / $6.50

 

Beeswax
1 oz. of nature's finest. Use beeswax to keep your thread from fraying and tangling while you sew. It's also great for smoothing the edges of leather book covers for a finished look and feel. It's organic, naturally!

1 oz. / $3.50

.

Cutting

Scalpels
Preferred by fine bookbinders for their cutting accuracy and exquisite sharpness, these scalpels are made of surgical steel and come with 5 blades. Both handles use size # 24 (curved) or # 25 (straight) replacement blades.

Caution: these knives are sharp, sharp, sharp and do not come with a case (although it would be fun to make one from polymer clay). Please handle with great care. We recommend storing the blades in our Plastic Tubes with secure lids.

Replacement Scalpel Blades
Our #24 and #25 blades fit both of our scalpel handles.

Package of 5 Replacement Blades
$2.50


Package of 25 Replacement Blades
$12.00


Directions for changing scalpel blades
are in the Idea Center


# 25
(Straight)

#24
(Curved)

#4 Scalpel Handle w/5 Blades
$9.00


#6 Scalpel Handle w/5 Blades
$20.00


Punching

Genuine Japanese Screw Punch and 9 tips. This is a great punch and it's the real Japanese model; Christine's favorite. It works with a screw action so it punches round holes through leather and stacks of paper easily and comfortably! In testing it punched a clean hole in 20 sheets of 20 # paper.  It comes with NINE tips (see sizes below) so this is a great value!

Genuine Japanese Screw Punch and 9 Tips
$77.00 / set

Full Set of 9 Replacement Tips for Japanese Screw Punch

Set of 9 / $48

Sizes:
  • 1mm (book sewing needle size)
  • 1.5mm
  • 2mm
  • 2.5mm
  • 3mm (standard 1/8" eyelet size)
  • 3.5mm
  • 4mm
  • 4.5mm
  • 5mm (screw posts)

Are you looking for a less expensive alternative? Our Darice Screw Punch comes with a 3mm tip only (perfect for your 1/8" eyelets). It's a good tool, but it's not the genuine Japanese model and doesn't come with the full set of tips.

Darice Screw Punch with 3mm Tip
$45.00 ea.

Looking for individual tip sizes? You'll find them on our Sales and Specials page.

We have help with cleaning your Japanese Screw Punch tips

Our Plastic Tubes are great for storing your extra tips. You can cut them to size with regular scissors.

Hole Punching Cradle Kit
Perfectly aligned holes are the reward for using this inexpensive, easy-to-use and essential cradle. Made of genuine acid-free, 100% recycled Davey brand book board.

Note: If you can't or don't want to cut 2 narrow slits in book board, I recommend that you buy the assembled Hole Punching Cradle.
 


Kit
$16.00

Assembled
(shipped flat)
$23.00


Click image for larger view

This 'Knotting Awl' is perfect for punching holes in your text sections, especially when you are using light threads.
Light Duty Awl
The perfect size awl for most lighter weights of thread. It's one of Christine's favorites and the one she uses in most classes. It comes packaged in a plastic safety tube so that you can safely carry it with you.

$4.00

Medium Duty Awl
A good bookbinding awl has a straight, un-tapered shaft made of strong steel. A comfortable handle makes it a joy to use. This awl is best for heavier bookbinding threads.

1 / $6.00


New lower price!

6" Plastic Tubes (2)
These 6" long X 1/2" plastic tubes are just the ticket for storing so many things. You can cut them down with regular scissors and customize them for everything from needles to an awl. Corral your eyelets and shepherd your beads. Buy several, once you get started, you'll find a million uses for them! They come with a very secure cap so you don't need to worry about losing your stuff.

2 for $1.50


 


Scalpel blades, tips for Japanese Screw Punch, drill bits, saw blades, awls; you'll find a million uses for these tubes! Easily cut them to size with scissors.

Measuring
Brass Rules
These rules will save you endless time measuring joints between boards, turn-ins and all kinds of standard measuring tasks. They are as beautiful as they are functional. (.064 thick). Made from lead-free brass to meet California's strict health laws.

Precision measurements without measuring!

Set of 5 / $20.00

We have discontinued our 2" brass rule.


Precision cut 12" brass rules come in a set of 5 widths: 1/8", 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and 1"

 

Binder's Book Board

Sorry, at least temporarily we've discontinued our board cutting service.

We have hints about cutting and using book board in our Idea Center.

Board is 100% recycled, acid free Davey brand binder's board.


Christine Cox 8/06
Silk Chrysanthemum
(11 1/4" X 8 3/4")
The size of this book required that I laminate 2 pieces of book board together for each of the covers. They were also covered with a thin layer of batting for just a little cushion underneath the 100% embroidered silk cover material.

Sorry, at least temporarily we've discontinued our board cutting service.

 

Sorry, at least temporarily we've discontinued our custom board cutting service.

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Product News
* New Marbled Papers from Galen Berry
* Beadalon
* Soft Brass Brush
* Seashell Charms
* Sterling and Copper Round Beads
* Nylon Jaw Pliers
* Copper GFCI Switch Cover
* Endband in New Colors
* 1/16" Metal Punch Sets
* New Glass Bevel Sizes
*
Memory Glass and Frames
* Riveting Hammer
* Handy Flux
* Charcoal Block
* Marbled Papers from Galen Berry
* Mini Needle Files in Handle
* Cut Lube (cutting lubricant)
* 600° Weller Soldering Tip
* Plastic Basket for pickle and Ultrasonic
* Liver of Sulfur
* Cream and Acanthus Book Cloth
* Tim McCreight's "Boxes and Lockets"
* Black Back Copper Foil Tape
* New and Improved Volcano Arts Folder

Sales and Specials
* Page Updated

New in The Muse
* Photos for your desktop
* How to Open and Close a Jump Ring
* A Curious Artist's Timeline
* Gallery of Christine's newest projects
* Bookbinding Crossword Puzzle
* Photos for your desktop
* Enamels: Love at First Sight
By Christine Cox
* Brooch or Necklace Watch
By Christine Cox
*
An Interview with: Christine Cox
By Kathy Wasilewski of ISABA
*
Wooden Book with PMC and Glass Inlay
By Christine Cox 6/07
* 1Q 2007 Blank Book Swap
* Textures and Patinas Book
By Lorna Lawson

* Video: How to Cut Glass
* How to Make a Mountain Book by Sally Monahan
* 15th Century Binding

Idea Center
* Methylcel and PVA Tips and Uses
* Soldering Tips, Techniques and FAQ
* 2" X 3" Glass Bevel Book
* Austrian War Ribbon by Gary Merlie
* Leather and Sterling Silver Book
* Miniature Enamel Book
* Freeform Peyote Watches
* Class Swap Photos
* Wood Book with Caterpillar
* How to Clean and Maintain Soldering Iron Tips
* Correct Blade Installation in a Saw Frame

Classes
* Early 2009 Class Schedule is Up!
* Photos from Book Technic 1 Class
*
Photos from Torch Technic Class
* Photos from Round Boxes Class
* New Classes up for 2008!
* Photos from Treasure Bindings Class
* Photos from Bracelet Technic Class
* Photos from Art Parts Intensive