I used to think edge painting was just for show

My friend in Portland showed me a copy of 'Moby Dick' she painted the edges on, and the pages felt totally different. She said the paint seals the paper fibers, which stops them from absorbing humidity. I tried it on a journal I made, and after six months, the pages still turn smoothly without sticking. Has anyone else found a practical reason for a step they thought was just decoration?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_miller1015d ago

That thing about paint sealing the paper fibers makes sense. I had a similar surprise with waxed canvas. I thought it was just a look, but I left a waxed bag in my damp garage all winter and nothing inside got musty. The wax really does block moisture.

grantf7315d ago

Seems like a lot of fuss over a bag. I mean, my regular backpack sits in the truck all the time and my stuff is fine. Maybe it's just a really damp garage?

oscar74311d ago

That waxed canvas example is spot on. It got me thinking about old tool handles, like on axes or hammers. People used to soak them in linseed oil, and I always figured it was just to make the wood look nice. Turns out that soaked-in oil does the same thing, it keeps the wood from swelling up and getting loose in the metal head. So what looks like a finish is actually holding the whole tool together.