How to trim a book with a bandsaw

[FrenchIan]

As it says....

I have acquired several books (paperbacks) which are taller than normal, so don't fit my bookcase. There is plenty of space between the top/bottom edges of the book and the text, so I was thinking that I could cut maybe 1cm off the top and the bottom of the book....

I've tried it with a tablesaw before - not good. I've tried it freehand with a band saw - still not good - it ended up frilly. I'm thinking that if I made a simple clamp, to hold the book just behind the cut line, then fed it freehand past the blade....?

Any comments?

Thanks

 

[MusicMan]

The proper tool is a bookmaker's guillotine. Try to find a small artisan book binder in your area and ask if he will trim your books. Shouldn't cost much.

Keith

 

[woodpig]

Most paper suppliers will know of someone who could guillotine it for you.

 

[flh801978]

There is a blade for bandsaws that is just a knife plain or scalloped
I have a bandsaw set up with one for leather card etc
Ian

 

[marcros]

There is a blade for bandsaws that is just a knife plain or scalloped
I have a bandsaw set up with one for leather card etc
Ian

Called a band knife I think.

 

[Harbo]

Lay them sideways, that's what we do

Rod

 

[MattRoberts]

Check here, 11:00 in

https://youtu.be/KfRjV5xGbKQ

Should still work for a bandsaw if you don't have a tablesaw

 

[timbo614]

This is a woodworking forum so the obvious answer is that the bookcase is too small/short. So before you butcher your books... build a new one suitable for taller books

Timbo.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Freeze them first

 

[RogerS]

This is a woodworking forum so the obvious answer is that the bookcase is too small/short. So before you butcher your books... build a new one suitable for taller books

Timbo.

=D> =D> =D>

Excellent.

 

[FrenchIan]

People, thanks for the suggestions.

@MusicMan, woodpig, Using a commercial printer's guillotine would be best and simplest, but I live in the middle of the french countryside, and there are no places like that nearby.

@ marcros, flh801978, A proper bandsaw blade would do a better job, I'm sure, but it's a once-off exercise, so I'd rather not spend any money.

@ Harbo, No, that's not an option. SWMBO thinks that books on their sides look untidy.

@ timbo614, Touche. Unfortunately, I can't alter th bookcases, they're built to fit the space.

@ MattRoberts, I tried a tablesaw as well, with the same result - frilly edges. So, freehand doesn't work, I guess I'll try again with a simple clamp.

Thanks again for the ideas

 

[AndyT]

The traditional bookbinder's tool for this would be a bookbinder's plough. It looks a bit like a plough plane - a wooden body holds a blade, a fence runs up against a guide to give a straight line. It cuts one or two pages at a time, working its way down the stack of pages. (A paperback book would be very similar to an unbound book.)

I think it would be worth a try with some wood, some clamps, and a very sharp blade - a broad chisel would do. You could devise something as simple or as complicated as you want, but the principle stays the same - have the blade cut a page or two at a time, jigged to move down in a straight line, and work it back and forth till it's done.

 

[bugbear]

The traditional bookbinder's tool for this would be a bookbinder's plough. It looks a bit like a plough plane - a wooden body holds a blade, a fence runs up against a guide to give a straight line. It cuts one or two pages at a time, working its way down the stack of pages. (A paperback book would be very similar to an unbound book.)

I think it would be worth a try with some wood, some clamps, and a very sharp blade - a broad chisel would do. You could devise something as simple or as complicated as you want, but the principle stays the same - have the blade cut a page or two at a time, jigged to move down in a straight line, and work it back and forth till it's done.

That would be a really cool project.

(personally, I would try to find a small jobbing printer who could do it, much commoner than bookbinders)

BugBear

 

[RobinBHM]

I reckon it would work on a table saw, but you will need to make it tightly clamped between 2 pieces of mdf or similar.

its a bit like a chipbreaker if there is no gap the cut is backed up, any slack and you will get 'break out'.

buy a kindle and put ornaments on the shelves

 

[monkeybiter]

Maybe dig out an old hand saw from your barn, grind the teeth off and grind one side to make a sharp edge giving a saw handled knife. Might work.

 

[marcros]

https://jeffpeachey.com/tag/plough/

http://www.csparks.com/Bookbinding/trimming.xhtml

 

[FrenchIan]

Failure!

The clamp worked well - I made it out of an old cross-cut sled - but the cutting left a rough edge.

Fortunately, it's one of my wife's books, and it could be years before she wants to re-read it, so I think I'm safe.....

Cheers

 

[MattRoberts]

Did you try the technique from the video I posted, of cutting it in several passes while clamped either side?

 

[FrenchIan]

Not quite.

It was clamped (tightly and just behind the cutting line), but only on one side. Though I did take very small cuts - 1mm each time, or so.

 

[AndyT]

Are you going to try again, using a knife?
Have a look at Marcros's links and see how you get on.