Warning: my old way of rounding spines was a real pain

I used to spend an hour just hammering the signatures over a dowel, trying to get a nice curve. Now I use a cheap bone folder from the craft store and a piece of PVC pipe, and it takes maybe 10 minutes. Anyone have a better trick for getting a clean, even round?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_barnes20d ago

Remember my buddy who tried using a rolling pin like that? He ended up pressing too hard and the whole spine got this weird flat spot in the middle. Had to redo the whole thing, and he was so mad he just left it square.

mary_foster9215d ago

That flat spot problem happens when you put even pressure over the whole length. Maybe the trick is to never let the pin rest flat. You gotta rock it a little, like you're rolling dough from the center out. It keeps the curve smooth and stops those dead spots from forming. Your buddy probably just pushed straight down and locked it in place. What if you tried a shorter rolling section, like a section of dowel, for more control on a curve?

joelt7020d ago

Ever try a rolling pin with a bit of sandpaper wrapped around it? It gives you more control than a pipe for that final smoothing pass... just a light touch to even everything out.