Weekly Bookbinding Report: independent practice

Week four as an apprentice bookbinder at York Bookbinding

Week four entailed practicing what I had learnt so far, being set tasks to carry out independently. Mike also showed me some more type foiling methods and techniques, which he had me help with, to create the spine of a book he was rebinding.

Week four accomplishments:

• Independently carried out tasks with limited involvement of senior team members.
• Successful use of saw in making holes.
• Sewing sections on the cradle for two books.
• Using the drill to do side binding on two books successfully.

New skills acquired during week four:

• Foiling type onto spine, copying a reference photograph of original type foiling.

What I need to improve on:

• Glueing endpapers.
• Foiling type independently.