DIY Book Binding Tutorial: Page Edge Gilding IN REAL TIME

I've received some comments asking for more detail on my process for gilding page edges. Hopefully this tutorial will shed a little more light. For context on how this fits into the overall book binding process, check out my other tutorials first:
• DIY Leather Book Bindi...
• DIY Leather Book Bindi...
Using the specific brand of foil (Foil Quill by We R Memory Keepers) is important to make this technique work.
If you are interested in any of the supplies I feature, click the link below for a one-stop shop on my Amazon storefront. Buying there doesn't cost any extra and it helps to support the channel!
amzn.to/3PtVkkX

[@johnny-wm4uo]

The quality of your content for the size of your channel is just mindblowing. Thank you for your tutorials, I can’t wait to try it out myself.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I really appreciate it! This channel is definitely a one-horse operation at this point, but I'm glad you're enjoying it despite my phone-on-a-stick cinematography.

[@freakydonald3611]

KEEP THE BOOK BINDING TIPS COMING MY MAN YOURE GREAT AT THIS STUFF AND IM LEARNING A TON. IMMA BIND EVERY INDIVIDUAL BOOK OF THE BIBLE NOW THANKS BRO

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wow! And I thought binding every Narnia book was a big project! By the time you're done with that you'll be far better than me at this I'm sure! You go for it!

[@madisonlederer1545]

I literally came here in the hopes of expanding my knowledge in preparation for rebinding heir to the empire and I see the most gorgeous rebind of it on the shelf behind you - 100% subscribing and am totally inspired ❤

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wow! It's a small world! I'm glad to know there are fellow fans of the expanded universe out there!

[@madisonlederer1545]

@@ingeniusdesigns There are dozens of, dozens!

[@smorrebrodpunk]

After now trying the foiling myself, I have to say: you make it look so easy! I hope to figure it out soon, too!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry you're running into trouble. There's definitely a learning curve, and people finding it hard is the whole reason this video exists. I think the biggest thing that people seem to get wrong is not sanding enough. It really needs to get up to a shiny polished look. Even if the pages are smooth but matte textured the foil quill may not stick fully. That may not be your problem but many people have found they just need to sand for longer. Good luck and let me know if I can do more to help!

[@smorrebrodpunk]

@@ingeniusdesigns I am pretty sure you are right - the fault is in the sanding. In my first try I probably also used way too much pressure on the heat, but at this point I've grown more comfortable with putting it on. I still run into trouble while sanding, though. My finest grit is 1000 and I think you also stop there, but for me it never goes AS shiny. Instead my pages kinda get stained, if that makes sense? I've been thinking if maybe there is falling some dust from sanding in between the pages, even though I wouldn't know how to fix that - the screws on my press can only screw so far! Have you run into similar issues? Otherwise I can already feel a small learning curve and it is a bit of trial and error, but your videos really helped! Even finished my first leather bound book earlier today, so thank you so much for making this easy and giving helpful tips!

[@60secondpages]

​@@ingeniusdesigns any tips for a curved book surface? Also which iron do you use. Thanks for the video.

[@AS-xi6lp]

Mine didn’t work very well either 😂 I got maybe 3 lines on it nothing else

[@mariannesalas5196]

😍😍 wonderful explanation and technique, and to think that I wasted many hours and foil quill trying to get it right and now thanks to you I know what I was doing wrong. infinitely grateful for your help :)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wonderful! That's exactly why I made this video. I was hoping that something I showed would be what you and others needed and I'm so very pleased to hear that it met your needs!

[@daneryta]

The way you explain makes things easier, but I know it’s a hard work, you’re an amazing teacher !! Thank you for sharing your talents and always helping us. You’re the best !!! ❤️

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much for your kind words and your consistent support, sticking around for each and every video!

[@Lina-np3ym]

omg finally an edge gilding technique that ian't so complicated!!! Have you ever done marbled edges? I'd love a video on that

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! It took a lot of experimentation to come up with this technique, and I'm happy to share it with others! I've thought about doing marbled edges, fore-edge painting, etc., but haven't tried those techniques yet. if I do I'll surely make a tutorial!

[@mslilylashes]

Man, your tutorials are just so delightful! Seriously, you do such a good job at breaking down your process and explaining it in a straightforward and understandable way, and I go back to them all the time! I've been doing bookbinding for just under a year now, but have recently decided to try to up my game and attempt gilded pages... so far no joy with the foil quill, but I think it might be because I'm using a Cricut mini-heat press, rather than an iron. (Also forgot the part about putting chipboard on either side until today's rewatch. Regardless, just wanted to drop in and say thank you so much for the content - it is very much appreciated!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry that's been a frustrating process for you (I have another video on the topic coming in a bit, so hopefully that will help), but I'm pleased as punch that my tutorials have been helpful to you! Please keep checking back and every once in a while I'll have uploaded something new!

[@michaelwilliams949]

I'll keep this in mind and I also love how you're doing it to the Silmarillion since i'm doing it to the exact same book!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! Hope it turns out great for you!

[@caissa6187]

This is my all time favorite channel for everything book binding! Your work is impeccable and I'm so happy I found you!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That's high praise! I hope to continue to earn it! Good luck with all your own binding projects!

[@jacquelinejones2190]

What a likable guy. And a great tutorial also. I make journals and can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I really appreciate the feedback and the subscription. Good luck on your future journals!

[@angelale9553]

Thank you so much for your bookbinding videos! I have watched them all 3-4x each and today I started on the sanding. At first I sanded by hand, and then applied the gold quill. But it didn't stick at all. I figured the key was it needed to be like a mirror finish like you had said. It would have taken ages to do it by hand so I found my boyfriend's sander and learnt how to use it (not hard). When it was to a mirror finish, I applied the gold quill and it actually stuck and was easy to apply. Yay! I am leather-binding him the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, and also got him an authentic Marcus Aurelius era silver coin (denarius) for Christmas. I am very excited to give it to him and very appreciative of your videos. Also, I love that video of you 3d-printing your brother his dream childhood toy. So wholesome, and such a lovely way to apply your skills. Godspeed, good sir

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wow! Thanks so much for being such a dedicated viewer and even watching some of the lesser-known videos! I am so glad you were able to figure out how important the smooth sanding is. I may not give that enough emphasis in my tutorials, because I think it's the main problem people run into with applying my technique. It makes me so happy that you're trying this new hobby and sticking with it even when you hit some roadblocks. Your boyfriend is going to LOVE it because of all the heart you're putting into it!!

[@Chris-lm3xk]

I started trying to learn how to customize my own books a few months ago for the exact same reason you said in your first video. And on top of that was my main interest in doing it on the Silmarilian since there are so few leather copies. Couldn’t have asked for a better example. Looks beautiful

[@ingeniusdesigns]

What are the odds!? It's a small world, to be sure. Glad this fit your needs so nicely!

[@shannonelliott9230]

Wow! What an amazing skill. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm grinning big because I always wondered how this was done. I've subscribed so that I can see your other videos as a subscriber. Yah bless you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard! I'm not always consistent with my uploads, but I have several projects in the pipeline currently!

[@txag007]

That is really neat! I always wondered what the process looked like adding gilding to the edges.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad you enjoyed it! I can't say my version is exactly what is done in professional binderies, but it's a decent at-home imitation at least.

[@antoniomromo]

Absolutely love all the bookbinding videos so far. You are amazing at the instructional videos good sir. Also to anyone looking to buy the we R memory keepers foil, I recommend you do it now. They are discontinuing it and selling it all at 50% off. They are already out of the roll of gold.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much for the kind words and for the heads up! I'll need to buy more too then. But I've also been considering a video where I compare other foil options, and it sounds like that has gone from a "someday" idea to an urgent need!

[@antoniomromo]

@@ingeniusdesigns I look forward to seeing the new video. Thankfully there are a bunch of different heat reactive foils out there. The big win for me with the WRMK foil was the 12 in width. Though that is overkill for bookbinding. I would recommend also including a short side note mentioning that what you need is heat reactive foil, and not toner reactive foil though. As both are sold as reactive foil online and they definitely work very differently.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yeah, I'd come to the same conclusion--Toner reactive foil (like Minc Foil) probably won't work. Thanks for the tip about WRMK! I'll try it!

[@tedshannon6679]

Your videos have been a revelation for me. I’ve watched them several times and have taken copious notes. I’ve ordered all the tools and materials I need and I’m very excited yet nervous. I want my first one to be perfect. I’ve got a feeling it won’t be my last. Wonderful job with your videos. I’m a teacher and know when I’ve seen great teaching. I’ll let you know how mine turns out. God bless.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks, I'm so flattered that you felt inspired to try it out yourself! I hope your first book is a great success! There's a learning curve, of course, though, so if you hit some snags don't give up! And hit me up if there are any more topics you would like help on. Maybe I could make a future video addressing your queries :)

[@tedshannon6679]

@@ingeniusdesigns I'm now finished with my 3rd book. It was, by far, my best. I'd love to sit down with you and discuss little issues that come up from time to time. The Foil Quill is driving me crazy. One side will look amazing, the second, not so great, and then the 3rd will be a total disaster. After thinking about it for several days and watching other videos on the subject I think I have it down now. (I probably shouldn't have touched the page edges after I sanded them). Another issue I had was when I closed the book to glue the cover to the text block. One end page was slightly misaligned. I repaired this by trimming the edge straight after it dried so no biggie. Also, I'm finding the leather can be quite expensive. Is there a reputable national dealer that is fairly inexpensive. The stock displayed in your 2nd video was impressive. Love to find a way to build a collection like that without taking out a loan. Haha! Best wishes and keep cranking out those amazing videos.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry the foil quill has been so temperamental for you. I certainly wish I could sit down with you and work through your challenges. I'm glad that at least you have it down for one out of three sides though--that's progress! As for the leather--I mostly use Ebay sellers. I search for 1.5 oz leather in whatever color I want. Sometimes I can find a sheepskin or goatskin for $15-30, but sometimes it's more if I'm picky about the color or texture. Unfortunately it's difficult for me to recommend one specific supplier because many of them import from different locations and the quality of leather can vary from batch to batch. So if you find something in a color you love and it works great for you, buy a bunch more from that batch!

[@thebeardedbrushandblade3091]

Mannnn, this is great. Many thanks, sir. I spent over an hour with my botched attempt, so 20 mins on the fore-edge is pretty amazing. I think maybe I didn't sand enough or maybe some paper dust was keeping it from adhering properly 🤔 gotta give it another go!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Those are good thoughts. The amount of sanding you do makes a huge difference, and if you don't clean it thoroughly that can definitely cause problems too. I always buff it with a clean cloth after the 1000 grit sandpaper to get rid of any remaining sawdust. I hope something in this video helped address your needs!

[@60secondpages]

When I open the pages the foil cracks and results in a patchy finish any tips for avoiding this?

[@CastleStar5596]

FINALLY!!! I've been looking for a edge guilding tutorial that didn't involve gold leaf and this is perfect and I'm surprised nobody else has thought of this

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I've experimented with using gold foil and this technique just works better for me. And it actually turns out to be closer to what large-scale binderies do these days! Hope it works for you!

[@CastleStar5596]

@@ingeniusdesigns i was curious. Would faux leather work with foiling covering or does it have to be strictly genuine leather

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I haven't tried faux leather myself, but I know plenty of professionally bound books are bound in bonded leather ("pleather"). I imagine that it would work just fine, with my one concern being potential melting if you applied heat transfer vinyl for the designs like I do. I'm not sure what the melting temperature of bonded leather is, so maybe that wouldn't be a problem.

[@edithhidalgo5122]

Gloria a Dios por su aporte, realmente estuve buscando tutoriales donde explicaran la forma de hacerlo y no los conseguía.. hasta que llegué a este canal..mil gracias desde Venezuela 🇻🇪

[@user-sc3st1kz5s]

How fortunate! I just got a roll of the foil quill for use in my cricut, now I have most of the components I need for my gilding tests >:D can't wait to try it out. Thank you for the effort you put out for a more in depth explanation

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wonderful! I hope it turns out perfectly for you. Let me know if you hit any snags!

[@coffeykz]

I haven’t been able to get this to work yet, maybe a sanding or temperature issue. What stuck looked cool though! Attempting to edge pages with a turquoise metallic htv.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Insufficient sanding is the most common problem, but if you're using HTV that will probably be problematic too. HTV, even the metallic foil kind, tends to stick to itself too strongly, so when you try to separate the page edges it will tear off in chunks.

[@leegzd2866]

Gasped when you mentioned which book you’re working on! I’m watching in preparation to do this with my own copy of The Silmarillion.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! Here's hoping you can learn from my mistakes and make something even better!

[@7R15M3G1]

I am very glad I found your channel and want to say many thanks, good sir. Please keep creating content

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much, you are very kind! I'm kind of slow and steady on the content since I have a busy day job, but if you'll stick around I'm hoping to keep up a pace of about one video a month.

[@caitlintroutman6795]

Your tutorials are amazing! Any tips on the best way to do this for already bound books like hardcovers?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! Unfortunately it's not realistic to gild the pages of a book without removing it from its cover, but if you carefully remove the text from the original cover, you should still be able to glue it back into the original cover after gilding, if you want to. You'll just need to replace the end-papers, since the originals will likely be destroyed when removing the text block. It actually is possible to keep the original end-papers too (I've done it a couple of times when I really wanted the maps on them), but it's VERY difficult and time-consuming to strip them from the cover without tearing them. So if you're not super attached to the original end-papers, then just sacrifice them, pull the text out, glue new end-papers to the text, gild the text, and glue it back into the original cover. It sounds like you've seen a few of my videos already, so I'll assume that all made sense in the context of my earlier tutorials? Let me know if not. Hope that helps!

[@kathis_bookart1398]

Thanks for this video! I recently tried to foil my first bookedge with foil quill. I wasn't able to get the foil to stick with an iron. So, i ended up using the foil quill pens...wasn't the best approach :D it took soooo much time and the pen movement is visible in the result. I'll definitely try it again with an iron after watching your video!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I sure hope this helps! The most important first step is to sand the pages to a reflective finish before applying the foil. If there are any little divots between pages the foil won't be able to get in there. Good luck! I'm glad to know there's someone else out there who thought that foil quill was a good idea for this!

[@kathis_bookart1398]

Thanks for your answer :) I just was able to apply the foil with an iron to some paper (obviously i don't have a sanded book lying around but was really eager to try). It seems like I was too fast with my earlier tries and the temperature wasn't correct. With your tips it works perfectly. I was so happy that i just had to share this small success together with a link to your video on my insta story.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! So glad these little tips could help you see some success so quickly. That's super gratifying. Thanks for the shout-out too! As for sanding the book, I have a tutorial on that process here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJnEi2ewo6uprdk&ab_channel=IngeniusDesigns Hope that helps!

[@shelbyalston9958]

I love your videos so much! I would LOVE a tutorial on how you made your book press from your part 2 video on book binding if you have any interest in doing that! 😁

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I am definitely planning on putting that tutorial together after I address the book cover design process.

[@shelbyalston9958]

@@ingeniusdesigns oh my gosh I didn’t even realize I wanted that tutorial until you mentioned it. Thank you so much! Love the content 😁

[@Tonicwine999]

Very good video, so honest

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed even the mistakes.

[@bomberdils]

So pretty!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much!

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

That's not what it's for.

[@ellawoods4291]

​@@Flat_Earth_Addy girlie what else would it be for? Thats why i do it to my books 😂

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

@@ellawoods4291 How do you not know? Sad...

[@ellawoods4291]

@@Flat_Earth_Addy Oh. What's it for then? Does it support the spine? Ensure the pages refrain from warping? Why, Flat Earth addy? For what other reason? Lay upon me your infinite flat earther wisdom as someone who is trying to gatekeep something they know seemingly nothing about. Now, I'm more than happy to eat my words should I be proven wrong but right now you just look like some twenty to thirty something year old who had nothing better to do than try and be an arse to someone who just wanted to say something nice about someone's else's art. Chill out, get yourself a glass of wine and a good book, find somewhere warm and comfortable, give yourself some well needed self love, and enjoy life. Who cares if someone half a world away likes a book with gilded edges just because it's pretty? Relax, eat delicious food with friends and family, touch grass, and enjoy the crafts and hobbies you enjoy, realising that life becomes enjoyable when we allow ourselves the little pleasures, and do our best to show love to all. What you put out into the world, you get back. God bless

[@danicastaneda6991]

De verdad muchísimas gracias!!! Estaba probando de distintas maneras y no me salía hasta que di con este tutorial 😊✨

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Gracias por ver el video y gracias por sus palabras amables!

[@rjformation9038]

I love your voice, like gosh 😍

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! Everybody hates hearing their own voice in recordings and I'm no exception, but I'm glad it doesn't sound as grating to others. My wife doesn't mind listening to the videos, though, so I suppose that's all that really matters.

[@ThePanelman]

That looks so badass

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I'm not perfect at it by any means but I'm so glad you like it!

[@emilywolfe468]

Amazing! ❤️ im so excited to try this. I ordered my leather and chip bored the other day! :D thankfully I already have a Cricut but I would love to know how to design for it!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I have a video on design principles for book covers in the works, but it involves a bit more editing than some others, so it will take a little while for me to get out. Thanks for your patience!

[@clarissemariaguida]

Perfect, thank you

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You are most welcome! Sure hope it works out for you. Remember to sand thoroughly!

[@bella-bee]

Thank you! I’m encouraged to have a go. Would you also be able to demonstrate adding colour please? ie art gilding? That would be brilliant!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm glad to know there's interest in that! It's not something I've experimented with yet, but if I try it and get good enough to have tips to share, you'll find them on the channel eventually!

[@OlaBirch]

Thanks so much. Great video

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you for watching and commenting! I hope you try it!

[@snicksabea]

Thank you for this video!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching. I hope it helps!

[@timeghostband9594]

I love your channel! Can one put foil quill over a painted edge? Like, sand it, ink it with colour, then put foil quill gold, to appear like some Allen rebind edges?? Do you know what I mean? Like, will a red/ pink hue remain under a shimmer of gold? Or will the gold COVER the colour completely? Maybe I should just experiment for myself... Lol I just love when books have an edge that is a gold shine OVER a visible coloured edge! 💖

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much for supporting the channel! I haven't tried what you're describing exactly, but I encourage you to experiment and send me another comment with your results! If you do try the proposed method then I would recommend using an alcohol-based ink rather than a water-based ink, since that will reduce the chance of making the smooth, sanded surface uneven (water tends to cause fibers in the pages to stand on end). The other thing you might try is adding your extra color on the fore-edge rather than the edge itself. You might use a technique like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnapi4CqeNGlo5o&ab_channel=JeffreyQuinn

[@tommymarco]

Great video

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad you enjoyed! Good luck trying it yourself!

[@tommymarco]

@@ingeniusdesignsThank you! Going to give it a shot this weekend :)

[@dianacoburn8269]

Thank You for your instruction

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You are most welcome! Good luck with your scripture project! I've done a set of scriptures myself and it was very enjoyable.

[@amosbiblebinding]

I have been doing manual gilt for 20 years

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! I'm sure we could all learn a lot from your experience.

[@ellens.bookishcollection]

I need to go watch other videos about this, but can you do this with books without removing the covers? :) Very new to this, I was actually looking at how to paint the edges of books, but this is exactly what I was looking for

[@ingeniusdesigns]

If you just want to paint the page edges then it can be done without removing the covers (although I still recommend it). Gilding with foil requires that you sand the page edges smooth, though, so you definitely have to remove the covers for that. So glad the video helped!

[@ellens.bookishcollection]

@@ingeniusdesigns What would you recommend, painting or gilding the pages? The reason I was looking into this was the help save the pages from moisture as the books age, plus is looking very pretty. :)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Good question. I'm not sure that either technique is especially protective. If you're painting/inking a design just for decoration then that could look fantastic, but it wouldn't cover everything so it wouldn't play much of a protective role. If you were thinking of just painting a solid color then I would be sure to experiment on books you don't care about first. I used to paint my pages gold before I discovered my foil technique. Even within a particular brand of paint, I found that some shades of gold tended to make each the pages stick together and others didn't. It was pretty finicky. It's a lot of work and took a while to learn, but I prefer the foil gilding both aesthetically and for its consistent results.

[@ellawoods4291]

The foil is really hard to get a hold of right now. Do you have a substitue thst works well? Amazing tutorial!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for the question. I have experimented with hot stamping foil as well (which I will show in a future video), and have found that it requires a slightly lower temperature but once you get that dialed in the results are more than satisfactory. You can find the hot stamping foil I used on my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs/list/233P5W8TCIZEP?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfingenius.designs_JCZEVVXVBNEQDFD54CMX

[@andrewfritz7496]

This is my third comment on one of your videos so first let me say thank you, this content has led me to make three leather bound books of my own and I’m hooked. I’m struggling with the edge gilt though, the plastic keeps on shifting and scrunching up. I can’t seem to get even coverage no matter what I do. Any help?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so glad that you're making books! If the plastic shifts and scrunches when you touch it with the iron, it's possible your iron is too hot. Try turning it down a little bit and see if you get better results. I know that's super simple, but I hope it helps!

[@Dea_Ex_Machina]

Can I spray paint on top of the gilding? I need a double layer with gold underneath and this is by far the best gold effect

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Theoretically, yes, but in practice I have found it to be pretty tricky. Often the spray paint adheres to itself more strongly than to the pages underneath, so when you pull the pages apart (which you have to do one by one when using paint) sometimes it will come apart in unsightly chunks. It really depends on what paint you use and how thin a layer you apply. Also, unlike the foil, which can continue to be reflective after you separate the pages, metallic paints will end up with a matte appearance in the end.

[@pratikkar9967]

Please teach us leather gold foil vinyl designing.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for the advice! I have a few videos in mind that will cover that topic in different ways. I know I'm a bit slow in getting them out, but if you stick around they will come soon!

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

I've never seen anyone using an iron before. How does that work? No size either? Or scraping or polishing?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

This type of foil has a heat-activated adhesive backing, so gilding size is not necessary. I do (and absolutely must) sand and polish the pages extensively first, though, but that was not the focus of this video. This tutorial may answer a few of your questions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJnEi2ewo6uprdk

[@Letsrocknroll13]

Amazing!! Have you ever used a heat gun instead of an iron?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I did try using a heat gun but wasn't happy with the results. If you find a better way, though, let me know! I'm always looking for a way to make this easier.

[@XX-le1wn]

is there a way to attach a lock to the book cover you want to create? If you want to make a diary.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That should be possible. Maybe I can make a video or a short about it some time!

[@ZombieQueenYugi]

If u don’t have that particular sticky back foil, what do u recommend if we only have simple heat foil?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

hot stamping foil will work, although at a slightly lower temperature. I'm planning to feature this in my next video.

[@illusterata]

I have been doing it on practice blocks and really have a feel for when it’s adhering. I’ve sanded every edge to a completely level and shiny surface. Cleared all dust, clamped, been very careful. But this is just not working well

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so sorry for your frustration. I am uploading another video on this process tomorrow, although it sounds like you're doing everything right already.

[@edgarsmartinez]

YVOKERN 4cm Gold Foil Paper Heat Transfer Film would work as well you think?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yep! I have experimented with it myself and find that it requires a slightly lower temperature on the iron, but once you get that dialed in the results are good. I will be demonstrating this exact thing in an upcoming video.

[@JJ-jp2qz]

Subscribed - thank you for sharing your wonderful experience and knowledge with us! Do you happen to know a good vegan alternative to beeswax to protect the gilding?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Good question. I've never tried it myself, but people use soy wax for vegan candlemaking so if you got some of that uncolored then I imagine it would work the same.

[@JJ-jp2qz]

@@ingeniusdesigns Fantastic!!! When I finally get all the equipment to try this I shall endeavour to report back my findings

[@Lia-jm4wh]

If i wanted to soup up a used book by gilding it, would i need to remove the cover first?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yes, removing the cover is a must if you want to gild the top and bottom edges, because you will need to sand the pages smooth first and that would be very difficult to do with the cover in place.

[@pappa3144]

thank you sir❤️❤️❤️

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You are most welcome! Glad this video was helpful.

[@MansterBear]

can you gild edges if they already have art gilding, but not gilding on the edges? My wife has an old bible that was her grandfathers, that appears to have red art gilding, but no gold or silver edge gilding. I'm just learning to rebind, but once I get good enough I want to rebind that Bible for her and surprise her. I thought maybe you can just sand the edge of the pages a little, then do the gold gilding, and hopefully end up with most of the red art gilding retained, and new gold gilding showing... But I also notice when I watch rebind videos, everyone puts the art gilding on after the gold gilding... so I wanted to make sure that edge gilding after art gilding isn't an issue.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That's a tricky case. With my technique it's pretty hard to get satisfying results without some pretty substantial sanding. Too little sanding will leave empty lines and patches when you try to gild. So if I were doing this myself I would sand it, gild it, and then re-apply the art gilding, but I totally understand if that's too much work or too destructive for your taste.

[@illusterata]

Ok I think I may have figured it a process that works for me. My sanding is too smooth. Foil glue may be the key. I’m also using 300 gsm hot press watercolor paper to create a large sketchbook. So kind of a different animal

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Interesting. I haven't had much luck with glue myself. It tends to make the pages tacky even months after putting it down. If you have found a product that doesn't do that I'd love to learn from you! Also, for me "too smooth" doesn't really exist. The more polished the pages are, the better my results. But, as you said, the watercolor paper may behave differently than the books that I'm used to.

[@dinekedejonge6252]

hello! is this okay to do on a tomoe river paper planner? i love all the gilded edges.. but i just want that one planner that doesnt have the gilded edge

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I see no reason why it shouldn't work on the pages of a planner!

[@woodwalker8743]

I have two more questions and I'll leave you alone at least for the moment. Do you as I have seen some do apply talcum powder to your pages before you put the foil on. Secondly the little trim that you put on the back of the Bible over the ribbons when you put them in I know that's not the proper name for four of them I'm talking about the fancy little trim that you put over top of the ribbons when you put the me in on the back of the Bible could you tell me where to find that please and thank you. Hopefully someday some more nearly as good as you are. Thank you for the hard work that you put in to see to it that these things get put out I appreciate that

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That little trim is called a headband, and you can buy them from a few places. Search Ebay for "bookbinding headband" and you'll find options in many colors. Great question! As for the talcum powder, I have tried it in the past, but I haven't found it necessary for this technique, so I stopped using it. Plus it made my books smell like a baby after a diaper change!

[@reneemiles9446]

What hear temperature does my mini iron need to be on please?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I do it at around 300 degrees Farenheit (149 C), but you may need to adjust up and down a bit depending on your iron to get the best results.

[@catie5939]

What temperature do you set your iron to? I'm struggling with getting the foil to stick at all.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I use the wool setting, which is around 300 degrees farenheit.

[@lizard-4199]

How long do you keep it in the press before pulling it out and tapping it to get the pages apart?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I can take it out of the press immediately after the gilding and waxing is done. No waiting necessary.

[@PaulBidny]

whats brand r you using of golden foil and Curcit Cutting mushing model ? thank you

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you for commenting on a couple of videos. In case you missed my response to the other comment, here it is again! I use a Cricut Maker. If you want the same model then you might consider supporting the channel by purchasing through my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs/list/1ZDGXFNRT7CO7?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfingenius.designs_1ASYMDYYDMV68TG4JYY2 Other vinyl cutters will likely work equally well though.

[@aquall0323]

I have a huge problem with my pages sticking together. No amount of tapping and bending separates the htv I’m using. Any thoughts on what I’m doing incorrectly?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for asking! The issue here is that you're using HTV. I've tried it, and although the heat transfer foils look like they would work, they are too thick and too strong and will just stick your pages together exactly as you described. The product I'm using here is called Foil Quill. Alternatively you can make hot stamping foil work as well. You can find all the products I use on my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfingenius.designs_6HR6TDXK24VCGZ7261XF

[@aquall0323]

@@ingeniusdesigns oh this is perfect! Thank you for your link and help! It is very much appreciated, and I can’t wait to get back to it! I have enjoyed every one of your videos so far

[@jcarnulfo]

On my books that come with gold page gilding, I have added art gilding using red archival ink. Do you think it would be possible do this with books that have been gilded with foil like in this video?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That's a great question. I haven't tried it myself (although that could be a future video!), but if you're gentle about it, I can't think of a strong reason why it wouldn't work with this technique. Still, as with most things, I would recommend trying it first on a book you care less about, in case anything goes wrong.

[@danieldelgado3008]

Hello, I am trying to learn how to guild the pages with the foil quill you suggested, but it is not sticking to the pages. From your experience do you know the problem could be? I tried resanding the pages and even tried raising the heat of my iron but it won’t transfer 😢

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry you're running into this problem. It's hard to diagnose without being there, but if you're using the Foil Quill brand then the most common problem is insufficient sanding. It can be pretty time consuming, but getting the surface of the pages up to a shiny polish before applying the foil quill is critical. I'm planning another video on this edge gilding technique soon, since the learning curve can be frustrating.

[@danieldelgado3008]

@@ingeniusdesigns thank you so much for your response! I will definitely focus on sanding more and see if that makes a difference

[@marialuizameningue7237]

I'm recovering a really old book (from 1969), poorly maintained and your content really helps me. If you allow me, I would like to ask you something about the edge of the pages. All the spine and, obviously, edges are very irregular, some even torn and I don't know if I can make the process with foil quill... Can you please help me?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Excellent question. The best thing to do will depend on your goals for the book. If you want a mirror finish then there are several methods out there aside from mine, but all require the pages to be completely even and smooth. This cannot be done without some sanding or trimming of the book edges. You may have already seen my other tutorial where I show how to sand the page edges to prepare them for gilding. Of course, in that tutorial I was using a relatively new book which had fairly even pages to begin with. For old books like yours with very uneven pages, I typically need to trim the pages before I sand them. If that's what you want to do, I can give you some instructions on how I do it. Alternatively, if this volume is very precious to you and you want to do things totally non-destructively (avoiding all sanding and trimming) then gilding may not be the right type of edge decoration for this book. You might consider alternatives like painting or blackening with graphite. There are some great tutorials out there for these methods that I could point you to. Let me know what your goals are for the book and I'll do my best to help!

[@marialuizameningue7237]

​@@ingeniusdesigns I alredy seen your other video and it guided me to this one!! This book it's not that precious to me, being honest. In parts, I'm doing because it's literally falling apart and, in the other hand, i would like to recovery an volume. I love bookbinding and it really helps me with my anxiety, so, I'm considering this my new project. I think trim it's the best idea. I try to post a picture of the edges here but youtube comments don't have this function, if you want to see them, I can send by e-mail I don't know. Anyway, the edges need to be fixed and i guess the gold foil quil you use gives a beautiful aspect and seems more functional and easy. I alredy try gilding with a notebook bookbiding by me but it turns out terrible! I paint the edge with acrylic paint and all the pages were stuck together. So, Im a little insecure about fixing and gilding the 'cause my notebook went straight to the trash and I don't want it to happen with this volume lol By the way, i have a big difficult with trim, so, idk if this was the cause of my other gilding turn out terrible. I just can't let the edges really straight, you know what i mean? Whenever I trim the edges, they get crooked and i have to say that I put a effort on this but doesn't work anyway. Thank you for reading this text and trying to help me :) ps: sorry for my bad english or any grammatical errors

[@ingeniusdesigns]

1) Thanks for explaining a little more. I know it takes a little time for me to get each of these videos out, but I do plan to do a video on how I trim very uneven pages to prepare them for sanding. If you can wait a bit maybe that will help? 2) I'm setting up a channel email address. I'll let you know what it is so you can send pictures of your project once I have that up and running. 3) No worries about your wording. I understood just what you meant. That being said, I don't know where you live, but if you happen to be more comfortable with Spanish you can feel free to use it; my fiancée is fluent and can translate for me.

[@ginageorge7240]

What foil coil did you use? I have never heard of foil coil, and I need to make some book edges gold for my daughter's book she will be dancing with for ballet. I didn't realize she needed the book to have gold edges.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

The product I use is called Foil Quill, although I have been able to get good results from regular hot stamping foil as well, just with my iron on a slightly lower temperature. You can find both products on my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfingenius.designs_PEWD2DG10TH40FGSZ9M9

[@ginageorge7240]

Thank you so much!

[@deborahbarlow4309]

I just tried to used Cricut Iron-on foil. Nope. It didn't work. 😞😭😣☺ Try, try again.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yep. I've tried that too, and it was a no-go. Every once in a while I experiment to see if I can find a simpler, more forgiving technique than the foil quill, but I don't have one yet.

[@Seurian]

Great video! One question, you didn't put any glue or something else before putting the foil? It would stick it with just the iron?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Precisely. The particular brand of foil I use adheres with heat. There are other brands that require you to use glue, but I've never had success with them despite trying many different glues. Inevitably either the pages stick together or the foil comes off in chunks. That's why I'm picky about what foil I use. Thanks for the question!

[@lilyskreinig6994]

I followed these instructions to a T, but I need a lot more material to achieve a non-patchy finish. Then I sealed it with real beeswax and when it was opened/manipulated it immediately became flaky and came right off like glitter. Shame. I used the same brand of foil and everything. Not sure what I did wrong.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

How frustrating; there can definitely be a learning curve to this. I get a little bit of the glitter when I first open the book after gilding it, but there's still a good layer of gold on the pages. The most common reason for patchy adherence is insufficient sanding before gilding. It's a pain, but you really have to sand and polish the pages to a glossy shine before gilding if you want the best results.

[@simmijoshua8816]

Waw...it looks amazing. I will try it. I link golden pages books. Please share the material from where can I get. Watch'from India.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for watching! I apologize for the wait in getting to your question. I use the product "foil quill." Here is a link to their products: www.wermemorykeepers.com/product-category/foil-quill/ Unfortunately the company is apparently discontinuing their line of foils, so I will need to find an alternative product soon. I will do some experimenting and make a video when I find a good replacement product.

[@randosa1948]

I'm having issues with my iron scratching the foil, I tried the another iron and it scratches it even worse. What iron do you use? Also about how long do you sand on each grit? What sandpaper do you also use btw because the one I got seems to be leaving its grains behind (if that makes any sense)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry to hear that this is still proving to be a struggle. My iron is nothing special--just something I picked up second hand. Since changing irons didn't help, perhaps it's a matter of the sandpaper. If it's falling to pieces like you say then maybe leftover grains of sand are getting caught under the iron and scratching the foil. I just use sandpaper from the local hardware store (Home Depot or Lowes, whichever is convenient). I do have to spend a long time sanding. Depending on the size of the book I may spend 10-30 minutes sanding per side to get the pages perfectly smooth before I apply the foil. You should get it up to a shiny polish. Even a smooth matte finish on the pages isn't enough to get a mirror effect when you put the foil on. And you need to be careful that you remove all the scratches put in the pages by the lower grit sandpaper through gradually progressing to higher grits.

[@randosa1948]

@@ingeniusdesigns Thank you! You're right I wasn't sanding it enough, it had a slight mirror finish but nowhere near what was shown in the video.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

It can definitely be a time consuming process, since the foil will end up smoother than the book pages looked without it. A single book usually takes me a whole evening to gild, but the process can be accelerated somewhat by using power sanders. I know Harbor Freight sells some affordable corner/detail sanders, if you happen to live in the U.S.

[@randosa1948]

@@ingeniusdesigns Thank you for your help! The sandpaper was the issue, got it sanded to a mirror finish and now time to figure out how to do the foil! I have a power sander, so I will try it on the next edge, thanks for the tip!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Good luck! Congrats on getting those pages to shine!

[@LonestarCP]

Any tips for doing page edges with rounded corners?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That will be trickier. You might have to sand and gild each corner on its own, effectively turning a 3-sided book into a 5-sided book.

[@LonestarCP]

@@ingeniusdesigns Ok, thank you!

[@20wwbullscg]

I just tried this but the foil quil wasn't adhering fully. When I removed the plastic front some of the gold foil didn't transfer. I thought maybe I didn't sand enough but when I practiced on other smooth serfaces the foil quil did the same thing. I'm using a cheap iron so maybe that's why?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for the question. It's hard to diagnose without being there, but my first thought would be to try increasing the temperature of the iron. Although I have success on my iron's wool setting (which the internet says is supposed to be about 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or 149 degrees Celsius), I imagine that the exact temperature probably varies from iron to iron. If it's still not working with greater heat, try spending more time on it or pressing a little harder. Some combination of temperature, time, and pressure is likely to produce more consistent results. I'm sorry it's been a frustrating start for you, but I hope it will work better with experimentation!

[@illusterata]

I’m extremely frustrated with this. I’ve been working and working at this and it seems to just not work

[@ingeniusdesigns]

There can definitely be a learning curve. From reading your other comments it sounds like you're sticking with it though and figuring things out through trial and error. You got this!

[@woodwalker8743]

An one more thing. Were did you find the foil. This is all new to me so still learning.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I use Foil Quill, which is made by We R Memory Keepers, and distributed by American Crafts and Joann Fabrics and Crafts.

[@woodwalker8743]

@@ingeniusdesigns I want to thank you so much for taking the time to give me the information.

[@jamie-te3ml]

Hey I’ve been using your technique on a couple of books now. Pretty happy with the results but I’ve noticed the pages have warped slightly. Not sure if this is from foiling or maybe absorbing moisture when I’m glueing the covers. Have you had this issue at all?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Hmmmm...this is not an issue I've encountered. I have sometimes had warped covers (which I cover in another video), but not pages. I think your guess about the glue seems like a good one. Try changing it and see what happens.

[@jytan3907]

Hi thanks for doing this video! I am wondering if you know of any other alternatives for the gold foiling as the link in the description is sold out

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Oh I see. There are a few alternate brands that I think might work, but since I haven't tried them yet, I'm not prepared to make a recommendation (future video topic?). In the meantime, the rose gold color doesn't seem to be sold out yet: americancrafts.com/products/we-r-memory-keepers-foil-quill-foil-roll-12x96?variant=39507415433280

[@doublea422]

Do you sand all three edges first and then apply the foil? Or one edge at a time?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I sand one edge then apply foil while it is still clamped in position. Then I rinse and repeat on each of the other sides in turn.

[@doublea422]

@ingeniusdesigns does sanding the edge next to the applied foil not take some of the foil off on the corners?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Technically yes, it slightly reduces the length of the edge that was just foiled, and so it does take away some of the foil with the paper, but it doesn't introduce imperfections on the foiled edges that remain.

[@ShylockedHerArt]

This was a really helpful video! I have been practicing gilding on books after foreedge painting them. I first started on a plain book, sanded to a mirror finish. The heat foil I use only crinkles up under my home iron. It does not transfer under any of the temperatures. I experimented by laying down some diluted sizing on the edges before placing the foil and that is when it adheres to the surface. But this leaves a slight tack to the pages and I am unable to burnish the foil to a shine. It looks dull. Could the issue here be with the quality of the foil? Also since I am making a painting and laying the foil on top of it, I want to reduce the steps as much as possible so as not to distrub the painting itself. So I would like to avoid sanding the Fore-edge. Is there anything else I can do about this?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so sorry this has been such a frustrating process for you. Normally the issue for people is that their pages aren't sanded smooth enough, but you said you have achieved a mirror shine, which is what usually works for me. That leads me to believe the foil is likely the culprit. Are you using the same Foil Quill brand? I haven't had much luck with other brands yet (although I'm willing to continue experimenting), and some brands, like Glimmer Foil, work completely differently, requiring ink to adhere to the pages. I have experienced the same problem as you when using gilding size or other tacky products to get the foil to stick. It sticks great initially, but the pages cling to each other at the edges ever after. I haven't found a way to circumvent that stickiness yet, which is why I don't use that technique. Maybe I'll find a better product in the future though... Finally, when it comes to the fore-edge painting, generally aggressive sanding is needed to achieve the mirror shine necessary for the foil to stick. This would of course damage your fore-edge painting. You could try sanding aggressively at first, then painting the fore-edge, then sanding lightly a second time to get the mirror finish back for edge gilding. I'm not sure if it would work, but it could be worth a try. Still, with how much effort the painting is, it would feel very painful to have any experiment fail. I'm rooting for you! Thanks for reaching out!

[@ShylockedHerArt]

@@ingeniusdesigns Thank you for writing back! I have been experimenting a little on my own too. The foil you have used is not available in my country, I went with a brand I could find online here. I recently made a split-double vanishing painting on a Lord of the Rings copy and learnt a lot from it. I always sand my edges before painting. The top and bottom edges were gilded using a little size. I sanded my painted edge using a 1500 and 2000 grit which gave a mirror finish almost instantly. I layered it with sizing and foil. My heart skipped a beat when it wouldn't open for a few minutes. I almost thought two weeks worth of painting effort was sanded off. But luck favoured and the hidden painting was intact under the gold. In fact, that edge had the best grip against the foil and I did not feel any tack. I am now wondering if a layer of pigment helps with the stickiness. I had once foiled over graphite powder and sizing and it had worked very well. Perhaps it is something that will seal the paper fibres that I need to work on. Someone else had suggested I use very diluted wheat starch glue. My next try would be to paint all edges any shade and use the foil with the sizing itself. Fingers crossed to nail the technique.

[@CarlaHowatt]

I’m so frustrated!!!! I went out and got the materials and followed the instructions faithfully and…. Ick. One side streaky, one side streaky one long side didn’t take at all. What am I doing wrong????

[@CarlaHowatt]

Many practice runs later….. I think my issue has been the sanding. Mainly I didn’t devote enough time to really focusing on it. Still not as nice as yours but I’ll keep trying!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yes! I see you answered your own question before I could get to it. As I've done troubleshooting with people here in the comments almost inevitably the problem turns out to be insufficient sanding. It's a chore to be sure, but in the end the gilding will never be more perfect than your sanding job was. I'll expand on this topic in an upcoming video.

[@CarlaHowatt]

@@ingeniusdesigns That would be a great video to do! My biggest question is - how do I tell it is ready and sanded enough?

[@juliemushkin7340]

I tried the Foil Quill you recommended and experimented with heat and pressure, but it will not stick. I didn't sand the pages first. Is that the problem? Is there anything else I can do to get this to work?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

In my experience sanding is definitely one of the biggest factors in success or failure. The smoother, more perfectly polished a surface is, the better the results will be. I have continued to experiment with several non-sanding techniques with Foil Quill and other products and I haven't met with any acceptable success yet, but if I ever do I will definitely make a video about it (since sanding is such a pain)! Thanks for reaching out! I'm happy to hear that you're trying it, and I hope you will be able to figure it out soon!

[@woodwalker8743]

What is the heat setting? Thank you

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I put my iron on the wool setting (around 300 degrees F, or 149 degrees C).

[@kristena8442]

Will this still work if my edges aren't totally flat? They're a little concave from the shape of my spine. Ive trimmed them already but still not totally flat. Just curious if this can work on a curved surface so long as I sand it 😅

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Curved surfaces are challenging, but luckily I have a trick for that. Check out my bookbinding hacks video where I explain it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYuqnX1mfZeKfJo

[@barackhusseinosama9189]

Love your work! I have tried this process myself, but have found it unfortunately greatly frustrating. I seem to be completely unable to get the foil to stick fully. I sand to a mirror finish (1200 grit sandpaper), but I seem to get only about a 75% coverage, with spots that simply refuse to be covered, even with subsequent layers. I'm not sure if I'm simply not sanding enough (I spend ~1 hour sanding each attempt, so I doubt it is this), of if the iron I am using is causing the problems (it seems to scratch the surfce of the foil significantly somehow, despite being smooth on the base). Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry it's been such a frustrating journey for you. This gilding technique was the hardest thing for me to figure out in book re-binding, and I'm still not perfect at it. You've predicted my usual advice well, as insufficient sanding seems to be the problem for most people. As for whether your iron is the problem or not, it's hard to say. Where are the spots that are not adhering (on the edges, in the middle, etc.) usually, and what shape are they (longitudinal lines, round chunks, etc.)?

[@barackhusseinosama9189]

@@ingeniusdesigns Many thanks for your reply! The spots where the foil doesn't adhere are honestly completely random - sometimes trails left behind, sometimes random dots. I've had some success using more heat on the iron, but this leads to many snags, and although I get close to a good finish, it's still just not quite good enough :( I've been thinking of experimenting using one of those dedicated heat presses, as this is more the stuff that they're designed for. What would be your opinion on that?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I've considered that myself. You could try something small like a Cricut PowerPress Mini. But I wouldn't use a large heat press, because it would almost certainly be impossible to get the control that you would want. Schmedt also makes a heated roller specifically for page edge gilding, if you're in the mood to spend a lot of money: schmedt.com/guides-tutorials/edge-gilding-with-edge-gilding-roll

[@SIMONETTA69]

I've tried it many times and it doesn't work for me. I use the Foil Wrapp Minc. It only works with toner or glue. With an iron I don't know why it doesn't work for me. With glue the foil works but it is sticky afterwards. I'm frustrated 😢

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I definitely understand the frustration. I experimented with so many different techniques, including glue. I really wish that it didn't make the pages stick together, but unfortunately no glue technique has worked for me either. I've also tried a couple types of foil and only the Foil Quill brand by We R Memory Keepers does the trick for me. I haven't tried it with Foil Wrapp Minc, but I guess that's another brand that doesn't work. I totally get where you're coming from.

[@SIMONETTA69]

@@ingeniusdesigns Thank you

[@dennisjohansson5716]

Hi! Great channel! Wondering if this foil could work for hit stamping aswell, on the leather cover?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I've tried it, and Foil Quill isn't quite ideal for that application. It works, but the resolution of the images isn't quite as good as other hot stamping foils. Feel free to experiment yourself though, and if you find a method that works well for you, let me know!

[@dennisjohansson5716]

@@ingeniusdesigns ok good info! Having quite the hard time trying to find the right stuff here in sweden :/ any good suggestions that is available world wide?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Foils which require an adhesive other than heat (like Minc Foil) will not work, but I've seen some articles saying that Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil works like Foil Quill for other purposes, so perhaps it would work for book pages too? Not sure if that is available in Sweden either though.

[@dennisjohansson5716]

@@ingeniusdesigns ok thanks! Ill keep looking and trying

[@babyjake-]

So I did just about everything you said to do but some flakes off as soon as I break the pages loose and it seems like more is coming off over time( month or 2). Honestly, only fifty percent, if that, is left on.any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry that you've been having a frustrating time with this. I always get a little glittery flaking when I first break the pages apart, but it doesn't stop the pages from being shiny, and they've been able to keep that shine for at least a year or two. It's hard to diagnose the problem without seeing what you're doing, but the three main things that come to mind are: 1) The pages may not be sanded smooth enough to begin with. You need to start with a really smooth finish. Even small irregularities will cause the foil to come off almost immediately. You can even have some trouble with areas that look smooth but have kind of a matte appearance to them before gilding, rather than being sanded up to a reflective polish. 2) Did you perhaps skip applying and polishing the beeswax? The wax helps protect the foil and keeps it from flaking too much. 3) Did you use the same brand of foil as me? Since the foil I use has recently gone out of production, I am planning to do a video in a few months where I compare alternative brands, but since I haven't done that comparison yet I don't know how other brands perform. I'm glad to hear that you're trying it out; hopefully you can get it figured soon!

[@babyjake-]

@@ingeniusdesigns yes I did use the beeswax and the same brand of foil BUT I will admit that my sanding never came to a polished look. My gf does t shirts and sublimation cups and she was saying that it needed something to grab on to. So I was stubborn and only went to 400 grit but never got that smooth polished look. I've done like 5 books and thinking back the ones I did the most sanding on ended up with less flaking. I will definitely sand more and add 2 more stages to my sanding.800 and 1000 grit. I'll let you know how it turns out...thank you for your time and quick response. You are a rare one.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for your openness to try and problem-solve through this disjointed text medium! The time spent sanding is super tedious but really does pay off. I hope it works better this time!

[@karmarowe5108]

What heat setting do you have on the iron please?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I have it set to the wool setting--about 300 degrees Farenheit or 149 degrees Celsius.

[@niqueduplessis7811]

Will Heidi Swapp - Minc Foil also work?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Excellent question. That's not a brand that I've tried personally, but elsewhere in the comments others have told me that Minc Foil didn't work for them.

[@angelamarie222]

I subscribed 😍🫶❤️

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Welcome aboard, explorer!

[@samueleprencipe7310]

My iron scratches the foil, I’m going crazy about edge gilding

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Oh that is problematic indeed! I haven't had that problem (unless I'm putting an undue amount of pressure on it). Maybe try borrowing someone else's iron so you can see if it's just the tool or not.

[@red_leader93]

I honestly wish it worked for me, I did literally everything you did, same material and everything, just really didn't like me.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I just uploaded another video which addresses one of the most common mistakes with this style of gilding. There can be a steep learning curve with the technique, though, so some trial and error is inevitable :P

[@red_leader93]

@@ingeniusdesigns I figured it would take a long time to figure out. My issue was when I waved the pages after doing the beeswax, it basically turned into a glitter bomb

[@60secondpages]

​@@ingeniusdesignshaving the exact same issue as this guy, would skipping the bees wax step cause this?

[@AS-xi6lp]

My attempt was a total bust 😂😂😂😂

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So sorry to hear that. There's definitely a steeper learning curve on the page edge gilding than any other part of the book re-binding process. I'll have more content on this topic coming soon. Make sure you use the right foil product and that you sand the pages perfectly smooth (to the point of being reflective) before starting!

[@andrewlarpenter]

Same, the foil never stayed stuck to the page, it would keep lifting off