Bookmaking Gear on the (sort of) Cheap

[@plebpoet]

very nice, thank you

[@carolantezana936]

Thanks for the tip about the phone book! It works great! I’ve been struggling getting my holes punched squarely in the fold.

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

:) Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best!

[@hoffmanyou64]

1 2 3 blocks are great weights and machined at 90 degree angles. The ones without holes are 3.5 lb. About $25 for a pair at amazon.

[@gerisnider3636]

Thank you for an excellent tutorial!

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

And thank you! :)

[@melissalindsey9573]

Don't forget you can use Joann's coupons for the cropadile too! You can get a lot of supplies very cheap on Ali Express if you don't mind waiting a bit.

[@DuluthTW]

I found some clearance priced wrist and ankle weights that work perfectly as book weights. In a pinch, a freezer bag with aquarium gravel works too. I think you have a great hack using the wine corks as handles and blade protectors. All are fantastic suggestions. Thanks for sharing!

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

Thanks, Teresa! Using wrist and ankle weights is a great idea. Didn't one of the big sporting goods stores recently start closing a bunch of their stores? That would be a great time to get those on the cheap!

[@taureon.xaviour]

Thank you! This was a really helpful video.

[@johannelarouche2846]

Hi Kristi. Thank you for all the information you share. My question is about your cutter. Can you do tiny cut to even a text block? Also will it cut 90 point board?

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

Hi Johanne - yes, I use my guillotine all the time to trim my textblocks. I can cut off very thin slivers on thick textblocks to give them a nice clean, even edge. The clamp that holds everything down is very strong and keeps what you're cutting from moving. And yes, it will very easily cut 90 point board. I use Lineco's 85 point board for my boxes and will often cut two thicknesses at a time (5mm) so it will cut 100 point like butter. :)

[@tubestation3]

Hey Kristi, thank you for the video tutorials and all the tips and tricks. I have a question about the the weights you are using, like how heavy are they and what would you recommend the max weight to use. I’m looking to buy some weights on eBay but can’t decide on the weights. Any advice. Thanks

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

I have a selection of those diver's weights that you see in the video, but the ones I use most often are the 4 and 5 pound weights. Depending on what I'm making, I often use them in conjunction with big heavy books or boards, which allows the weight to be more evenly distributed. I don't have any hard-and-fast system about how much weight to put on something - really, just putting books or a brick on a piece until it's dry will work. :)

[@annajavier5712]

Hi I just seen your video that showed your guillotine and I found it on Amazon I was wondering what size of book board will it cut? I seen one foe 180. And 270. Do you know the difference between the two

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

If you're looking at one like this - amzn.to/41fBWf1 for $259, it's 17" (the one I have). The one for $180 is probably only the 12" version.

[@annajavier5712]

@@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks do you make books longer then 12 and it cuts the thickest book board. I only use the one you use

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

@@annajavier5712 I only sometimes make books much larger than 12", but I do, and I often make boxes that have sides or bases a lot larger than 12", so this larger size cutter is a must for my needs. Yes, it cuts my thickest bookboard, which I particularly use for the boxes, but sometimes for books, and it absolutely cuts it. A regular paper cutter would never cut through it.

[@marilynshannon3648]

Kristi, I looked at the book board cutter on amazon and there were some reviews that said the cutter was not good. Have you had any problems with yours?

[@KristiWarrenHandmadeBooks]

I've seen a lot of those reviews and they always puzzle me. I've never had any problems with my cutter. It took me a bit of a learning curve to figure out exactly where it was going to cut (I don't know why that seemed a little obtuse) but after cutting a few test boards it was all pretty clear. I've cut hundreds of pieces of bookboard and dozens of textblocks, and it still cuts like butter, all with the original blade.