Trimming a Text Block with a Knife // Adventures in Bookbinding

Can you trim a text block with just a knife and steel ruler? I thought no, but decided to give it a go and see what I could do.
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The #DASBookbinding Channel is the perfect starting point for learning #bookbinding. It covers foundation skills, simple projects, technical methods, materials and more advanced bookbinding projects. The videos are presented in a tutorial or lesson fashion, which I hope are easy to follow. The knowledge presented is based on traditional techniques which can be used to create traditional books or as a foundation to quality journalling or creative artists' books. The best way to find what you are looking for is the DAS Bookbinding KZbin Channel guide.
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English Closed Caption titles by Carrie Snyder. Thank you!!

[@andrewchung104]

One trick I've learned is not to cut straight towards your body. If you pull straight towards you your wrist will have to bend more and more, and that can cause the blade to tilt. The solution is to put everything at a slight angle so as you draw the knife your wrist stays locked.

[@DASBookbinding]

Thanks for your tip! DAS

[@chazztesa]

I need to learn this

[@ksdtsubfil6840]

Wow that is a really useful tip actually.

[@PacoElMapache]

Like a cook ;p

[@DebKiwi]

Sounds very helpful, thank you Andrew! :-)

[@taliatelly6877]

Love these practical guides for people without access to equipment! Thanks you for another excellent video!

[@Turgon92]

You tackled a big problem amateurs face,thanks!

[@CSGraves]

The sheer anxiety and tension that ruler-pressing hand carries in it through this process! Glad to see someone with more experience using sandpaper to touch up those little rough areas - as an amateur having done so myself on occasion, I didn't know whether actual bookbinders would frown on this practice by those of us without a plough or guillotine. An alternative to utility knives & box cutters is a kiridashi. Chisel ground blade that doesn't flex (unless you get a really thin one). Downside is you'll have to either sharpen it yourself or get it done for you once it dulls.

[@Nayelianne]

Thank you very much for this informative video. My first attempts at trying to trim with a knife were pretty disastrous and I thought it was just my lack of ability, but seeing a professional getting a similar result made me realize that the tool probably had a fair deal to do with it and there is hope for me yet haha.

[@DASBookbinding]

It's a really hard way to trim a text block! Happy binding! DAS

[@Bakanyanchii]

your videos have answered so many childhood questions i had while i was observing deteriorated books in my house that I forgot about and suddenly remembered while watching, like why were books made with that half circle shape on the edge and how they were rounded in the making, now I got to see the logic for the first time after almost 3 decades since then. Love your videos and thank you for passing down this knowledge

[@Leo1406hongkong]

Something tiny could make a big difference. Your demonstration is always inspriing. Thank you.

[@ashleydesmond7517]

Thank you so much! This is very helpful! I am learning so much through your videos!

[@Eromatics]

I used this method for trimming my text blocks since i started and it never was a smooth cut. Once i finally got a heavy duty trimmer, ill never go back to this way haha. But im greatful that you post videos like this for beginners and people who cant buy big trimmers. Its SUCH a huge help just starting!!! Thank you!

[@vedikasingh8704]

Such an informative video I was looking for this from a long time I'll definitely use it! Thank you so much!

[@kristinpothast]

This was a very helpful video, thank you! I've learned so much from your channel.

[@peaches5712]

Very good video! I’m VERY much a newbie to book binding, actually I just finished sewing my book and wondered how I was going to trim/clean the edges. Thank you so much for showing this method. 😀

[@jessicadesrosiers7467]

I just started book binding, as in I'm doing my first book as we speak and your videos have been invaluable. Thank you so much for taking the time to make them for all the newbies out there like me!

[@patmaps9997]

Just loved this video. Thank you!

[@NabilahMY]

i just had my very first foray into bookbinding yesterday and it was so fun (i just made a little graph paper notebook with just one signature that i can use for daily to-dos and deadlines), i was feeling a little bad about my wonky knife cuts but after seeing you, someone with clearly a lot of skill, also not get a perfect result with this method, it makes me feel a lot better about my first attempt so thank you for posting this i'll be checking out this channel a lot more as i'm progressing :)

[@aribaiense]

Interesting video and very enlightening for beginners like me. Thanks for sharing your experience. I really enjoy seeing your videos.

[@DASBookbinding]

I'm looking at possibly teaching bookbinding live online. But the part I can't work out is how people can trim their books. Most people don't have a guillotine. Maybe thin books which this method works on easier. Happy binding! DAS

[@redcenteno7150]

This is super helpful! I can't count the number of times I've butchered my poor books attempting this, I appreciate the explanation! After two attempts and a bit of sanding, I was able to do it! Thank you so much!!! I've been attempting this technique for a very long time and I'm happy I got it down!

[@Anna-qwerty]

Thanks for doing this for us!

[@pnumenwiese]

This was the exact tutorial, I needed today! My leather arrived, the glue has dryed and the pages are all wonky. Now I can go and end these three books! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[@sam71119]

Greetings from Mullumbimby NSW.... Thank you for this video.... much appreciated... you have solved the difficulty found thus far...

[@DASBookbinding]

A lot of my equipment came from outside Mullumbimby after a binder there had to stop binding. DAS

[@iskyline1299]

Thank you for the great video! Really helpful!

[@sittingyak]

Bravo. Thank you for this video.

[@A2Zandeverything]

I was so excited by this video I just went & told my Husband what all of my issues had been. The tears, the frustration, the ever diminishing text block, perfectly beautiful journals I had essentially ruined. Thank you so much for these tips, will invest in good quality knife. One day the dream is a paper plough &/or an antique paper cutter, but for now a stanley style knife will do.

[@DASBookbinding]

It's still hard to do. Make sure you check out this video too. I think using a chisel is a better method. But it has to be super sharp. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKmom4Gld9Wnjpo

[@mechatronian]

awesome tips, this helped me reduce my Legal size paper stack to A4 size pretty nicely, thanks!

[@orcatransient]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@mompols]

Thanks for demonstrating different knife with the book. This is is very informative! I'm curious to start a bookbinding hobby

[@DASBookbinding]

If you do get into bookbinding you'll want to move on from trimming with a knife fairly quickly. Happy binding! DAS

[@allcatz]

Great video and I love the music.

[@mikezinn7212]

Excellent . Thank you.

[@joycegeleynse7560]

Thank you so much!! Super helpful! Now I feel less like a klutz who just can't cut right. And I LOVE the music you chose!

[@DASBookbinding]

Check out the companion video called something like "Trimming without..." Much easier method. Trimming like this on a thick book is sooooo hard. DAS

[@solascripturamjc9681]

Fascinating!

[@madamsloth]

Thank you so much for this! It’s a life saver

[@DASBookbinding]

Have you seen this video too? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKmom4Gld9Wnjpo DAS

[@thebluetrinity]

That was really helpful. Thanks.

[@l38blue72]

Thanks for this. Just trying to trim text blocks to put in vintage book covers for gifts. First 3 cuts just like yours. I will go buy a new blade tomorrow!

[@DASBookbinding]

Good luck!

[@diego_segura]

Nice demonstration. I struggle very often with this task. I will certainly try this solution.

[@DASBookbinding]

Yes, trimming by hand is not easy. Only done because you have to. If you're doing it often, it sounds like time to upgrade to a better solution. I understand even a small guillotine takes up space that many people don't have. But a small plough can be very handy. In the next few weeks I'll have a video on ploughs and I'll demonstrate a small model that I think is perfect for the small bindery. May the paper grain be with you!

[@shirleydick996]

I think it's the hardest part of producing a fine result, don't you?

[@ToNDWOo]

OMG! Thank you for this video I though I had to leave my book all crooked, now I know what to do :D

[@Samammie]

I know this video is old, but I noticed in the last part, you were curving the blade as you went downward to try and stay against the ruler, which created that less than desirable result. I learned the hard way that your blade has to be completely perpendicular at all times. I am sure you have figured this out already though, and you don't even need to use this method because you have the big guns 😂😂😂 also the sanding block works very well for slight imperfections. I really enjoy your videos, you have helped me immensely, thanks so much!

[@jaymoffitt581]

Hey Darryn, I know this video is older, but I have used this video, along with all of your videos to improve my bookbinding skills. And after many, many wasted blocks for experimentation, I've found that putting a scrap piece of book board under the book when I cut it using this method, it gave a much cleaner result in the end. Still in need of some sanding, but it was much more consistent.

[@DASBookbinding]

Good to hear! Take care, DAS

[@samking4179]

a simple home made press would help immensely. even a few c-clamps would help out. love videos that show just how difficult the seemingly simple tasks are not so simple after all. great work!

[@DASBookbinding]

There is another video in the "series" showing a better way which uses a couple of clamps.

[@RubyGloomy]

Thank you I have been sitting on my first text block for a while unsure what to do with it i baught a knife I saw in another video but it was as blunt as a butter knife even ages on the whetstone didn't improve it much so I was a bit scared of buying yet another item I also didn't know about rounding so double thanks

[@DarkDeLeon]

This is a wonderful demonstration. Rounding the textblock to get rid of the swell is just brilliant. If I can pitch in my own two cents: I snap the blade for every pair of sides trimmed. I use relatively cheap but sharp blades, and find it to achieve a wonderful result if combined with a patient, steady hand. I also blow, or distance the shavings using the knife, to prevent it from getting derailed from the groove

[@Chris-ji4iu]

New to this, but I know from previous printing/copying experience (including using an industrial guillotine) that cutting paper is one of the fastest ways to dull a blade (we used cryo frozen tipped guillotine blades ...but they still dulled fairly quickly).

[@DarkDeLeon]

@@Chris-ji4iu I didn't know that. It makes a lot of sense. You can definitely tell the difference after a couple strokes when you use a boxcutter, even visually. I guess paper beats scissors over time, haha.

[@montycrain5783]

Very Helpful. I’ve been wanting a spiral bound copy of “How to keep your Volkswagen alive” by John Muir. Since pristine copies of the spiral version are $100 or more with conventional book reprints at $20-25 I’ve been putting it off. Also since steel spirals can rust the pages in a Garage environment and if bent never function right again I began looking. Since I’ve never had a problem with plastic comb binding I looked on Amazon and found a inexpensive but highly reviewed comb binding and hole punch machine for 60.00 and didn’t know at the time of plastic combs are available in sizes that fit up to 450 pages. With your help I think now I’ll proceed.

[@jesus.moreno]

awesome man ... regards from peru

[@DASBookbinding]

Wonderful to hear from Peru!! All the best, Darryn

[@linamoses3513]

Will give this another try. This is my biggest problem and a reason why I haven’t given away my books. 🤞

[@ricardofernandezp.]

Muchs gracias por el vídeo explicativo. Me ha servido mucho, saludos desde Chile.

[@DASBookbinding]

You're welcome!

[@Bee272]

Super helpful, ive been trying to trim my first binding attempt and it was going so wonky, i hadn't even though of sand paper!! And im definitely going to go get a sharper/thicker blade lol

[@DASBookbinding]

Check out my video on using a chisel to trim the edges. It is much easier and reliable.

[@MrBombT]

Danke!

[@rachelcompton4625]

Thank you!! I'm just looking into book binding (havent even done my first book) But didnt want to purchase a plough just yet!

[@DASBookbinding]

Have a look at my other video on trimming a text block without a plough. Can be done with tools from the hardware store and works better than just a knife and ruler. Good luck! DAS

[@keithkennedy-tyson8578]

Thanks for another great video. I've been messing with self made ploughs and have had much worse results. I think I'll follow your advice until I can afford a real plough thanks Tassy Keith

[@DASBookbinding]

Hi Keith. You must have a press to be playing with home made ploughs. Have you tried the chisel or paring knife on the top of the press? There are YT videos out there showing this, I think. Take care, Darryn

[@keithkennedy-tyson8578]

@@DASBookbinding Thanks for the idea, I'll look out the videos as I haven't seen them yet. Yes I do have a press which I finished making a couple of weeks ago; as with most things it is now going through a modification to improve it. I couldn't afford the ones from Queensland and at the end of the day it turned out to be an interesting project. Thanks again Keith.

[@Stvr_airen]

Thank god i found this

[@danielitajosue2008]

Thanks so much. This is very useful... my first books pages are so uneven🙈 I'll try a different blade

[@DASBookbinding]

Have you seen the video I made where I use a wood chisel to trim the edges. It's easier than using a knife. Good luck! DAS

[@kf9058]

I used to do paper cutting and was recommended a surgical knife. Since the blades are extremely sharp. I'll have to give it a go and see how it works on this.

[@DASBookbinding]

A scalpel is a double-beveled knife. The best knife for cutting this way is a single-bevel knife with the bevel on the side away from the ruler. Scalpels also tend to flex, which is not ideal for this task. And finally scalpels are wicked sharp, but tend to go blunt fairly quickly (blunt by their standards). Give it a go, but I suspect it won't be any better than a high quality craft knife. Good luck! DAS

[@Fucker666Miau]

Having no guillotine, this tutorial is a killer. Many thanks.

[@DASBookbinding]

Also check out the video where I use a wood chisel. It's a more accurate way to trim a book without a guillotine.

[@Windowswatcher]

I’d love it if you’d do a video on paper, weights of paper for different parts of a book (endpapers, covers and book blocks) as nobody seems to mention this aspect of the craft. The various types of paper and what to expect of them. I’ve just found your videos and I find them both interesting and helpful. I’m just starting out…at be 74!

[@DASBookbinding]

It's a great question, but also much more complex than you might imagine. There is no right answer to what weights or types of paper to use. There are papers that may be more suited, but even something that is not a perfect fit can be used. It is just such a broad question, and this is why it is hard to answer. Also, the types of paper and how they are described and used vary around the world. All the best, DAS

[@Windowswatcher]

@@DASBookbinding Thank you... I feared as much.

[@johng932]

im going to struggle with this one soon. im going to see about sandwiching the index block between some wood and clamp it. Looking forward to rounding out the spine, after the endbands are put on. next time i get one together, maybe i should measure and cut the signatures beforehand. what do you think Darryn? Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, love all your vids! Subscribed

[@DASBookbinding]

If you clamp it between boards you can use a flat sided knife, a paring knife, like a plough.

[@brainfornothing]

I used to do that until a few years ago, when I bought a paper guillotine; the results were "OK" most of the time, but never perfect, only working really well with thin books. Cheers !

[@maurice1606]

A proper guillotine should cut perfectly up to its full cutting height. Perhaps what you have is technically a paper cutter or trimmer (with a hinged blade acting like scissors)? That will probably only give a really clean cut on 5-10 sheets.

[@brainfornothing]

@@maurice1606 Sorry, I think I didn't explain myself very well : I used to use a utility knife and never worked well, except for thin books. Now I have a proper guillotine and works perfectly. Thank you for your answer. Cheers !

[@maurice1606]

@@brainfornothing Sorry, got you now! Paper cutters are just so commonly called 'guillotines'! Glad it's working for you. I'm after a guillotine for the same reason, if I can find room for it. Even just a 30cm one, because I've never bound a book that's bigger than 297mm in any direction, and I could still fit in the short side of A3, to split it into A4, for instance.

[@brainfornothing]

​@@maurice1606 I bought a "heavy duty" cheap chinese one, A3, 27 Kg, about 115 € with shipping, in august 2019 and work well for me. Nowadays, with all the shipping problems, is about 180 € with shipping. Maybe is a good idea to buy it in second hand marketplaces, maybe you can even buy a better one for much less. But, yes, storage is a problem ! Hehehe ! Cheers !

[@maurice1606]

I was looking for one around then, but never took the plunge. I think "heavy duty" was their way of trying to say it was a real guillotine, but half the paper gutters for sale are called "heavy duty" as well! Nice to chat!

[@Carolinefrankwrites]

this is actually one of the reasons i've been hesitant to start! I don't want ot buy a guillotine upfront

[@shirleydick996]

Call me amateur (because clearly I am!) but I really like untrimmed signatures if well executed. If enough attention is paid to the folding (which I'm currently trying since adding brass liners to my bench hook) then the end result can be very attractive, if not conducive to gilding or edge painting.

[@BuckyMeow]

You should’ve seen my attempt, it looked like it was cut by a chainsaw!😂😂

[@ernestobarrera2927]

Hi Darryn, what is the grit size of the sandpaper you use in the video? (I am not able to decode that "FL202P" reference) Regards, Ernesto

[@DASBookbinding]

240 grit is my go-to paper for most things. Actually now I think about it, for everything except sharpening to do with bookbinding. Ciao, DAS

[@SkylerLinux]

I have now just discovered why and where the rounding come from

[@miaandersen8731]

Have you ever used a chisel in a press for this task? I've been dabbling (and watching hours of KZbin videos- yours are the best!) and I had some success with the chisel because I was able to glide the flat back of the chisel along the top of the press to keep my cut level. I just sheered a couple of pages off at a time using the corner of the chisel

[@DASBookbinding]

Funny you should ask. Check out this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKmom4Gld9Wnjpo Yours, Darryn

[@miaandersen8731]

@@DASBookbinding haha! I should have known that you already knew of the way! 😊😊

[@raghuarmani8341]

Awesome. Which type and grade of sanding paper should you use? Also, are there hand held sanding machines available?

[@DASBookbinding]

I use 200 to 400 grit sandpaper on edges. I sometimes use an electric orbital sander. DAS

[@rivereto8252]

děkuji

[@DASBookbinding]

You're welcome! DAS

[@bishopbespoke5066]

What is your favourite break off knife? ive tried a couple and they never seem to keep a sharp edge for very long! I have been using a swans scalpel blade and it seems to survive quiet well, yet not very robust.

[@DASBookbinding]

By far and away my favourite 9mm snap off blade knife is the Olfa SVR-1. DAS

[@thetrawlers9624]

Do you have any videos on how to make pointy corners rounded? My book has pointy corners and I was thinking of using a knife

[@DASBookbinding]

I just got a huge corner rounding machine. That does the job nicely. Otherwise a knife and then sandpaper. Good luck! DAS

[@thetrawlers9624]

@@DASBookbinding Where did you get yours?

[@-----REDACTED-----]

I found this task becomes a bit less messy when using a knife that has an asymmetrical edge (is only ground on one side) such as an English paring knife or Japanese Kiridashi knife. It won’t be perfect like with a Guillotine (or at least I haven’t managed yet) but it _appears_ to me the edge is nicer than for example with a cutter. These knives should be super sharp and their thickness helps against flexing. At the same time their asymmetrical profile let’s them glide flush along along for example a ruler or wooden board.

[@DASBookbinding]

If you're using a single bevel knife like a paring knife, and you have a press, the best thing to do is use it like a plough. There are a few videos out there demonstrating this. Jeff Peachey makes a knife just for this. All the best, DAS

[@debboye]

I did not see mention if the 18 mm blade is a snap off kind or a regular blade? I am in the US and looking for a way to trim my text blocks as my books are not very thick and I am only making them for myself at this point as I want better quality art journals

[@DASBookbinding]

Yes it is. Make sure you check out this video too. Trimming with a knife is so hard. Chisel is easier. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKmom4Gld9Wnjpo

[@chazztesa]

Its difficult to cut that thick, i day youve done it well

[@silverpromidi]

I ended up with another journal for myself rather than a journal for a friend last night because of the issues you showed. Not unhappy with my new journal so much, I got to recycle an old book cover and it is pretty ok however that knife ... it kind of made a mess of the text block Where did you get your final knife from? Bunnings maybe? More pointers picked up from this. Thanks.

[@DASBookbinding]

Yes, just Bunnings. But check out my other video on edge trimming "Trimming without..." DAS

[@silverpromidi]

@@DASBookbinding thanks will do.

[@4570sharps]

How much tail and head could be taken off of a smyth sewn book?

[@DASBookbinding]

Always cut as little as possible unless there are printed trim marks, then cut to them. I’ve never used a Smyth section sewer but I assume you can adjust the distance between head tail and start of sewing. Just don’t cut the sewing. Leave at least a few mm between sewing and ends of the book. Hope this helps.

[@sollekram]

Didn't had any blade, I tried to use a knife sharp, and I end up destroying 1 paper, the front paper... I could replace it right? It's glued though... Should I take an acto X blade or this blade you use for future?

[@sollekram]

It's already stiched and glued, though the front paper is not, it's only glued

[@sollekram]

I tried to finish it cause I could not watch it like that barebone and I wanted to add covers and the back, I tried to use a knife, so I could trim the ends, only the first page destroyed(the front pattern one, too much color ink). I am using a tank ink printer so it's ok.

[@DASBookbinding]

I hope this worked out for you. DAS

[@solcastro9279]

I trim all my planners with the ruler and cutter knife. The issue is: the top part (the face I see while I trim) turns out great. But the opposite face, since the cutter tends to be flexible, turns out not quite straight, but with some curving. Although the cut itself turns out pretty clean. I've done this dozens of time and honestly I never get quite the result I want. I've tried different cutters and using just a but of the blade out, but the problem persists.

[@DASBookbinding]

Did you tell me about the single bevel blades for box cutters? Apparently these are available in the UK. Sounds like they make cutting with a ruler and knife easier. I had a look and couldn't find them in Oz. Regards the flexing, that is why I found the heavier blade worked better than the smaller 9mm blades. All the best, Darryn

[@solcastro9279]

@@DASBookbinding no, no... I just discovered your channel! I'm glad I did. I'll have to take a look at some hardware store or similar to see if I can find some more rigid kind of knife. Greetings from Costa Rica. You can see some of my work here facebook.com/soldepapel.arte/ I actually just work some modest styles 😅

[@DASBookbinding]

@@solcastro9279 Great to hear from Costa Rica! Very nice work! All the best, DAS

[@imran-ic6gc]

Hello. Good video. I somehow damaged my book by this method. Will sandpaper fix it? Please reply

[@DASBookbinding]

Depends on how bad the trim is. As I say in the video this method is hard to execute. I've got another video that uses a wood chisel that is easier but requires a bit more equipment, but things you can get from the hardware store. Though, the chisel from the hardware store will need to be sharpened to work. Good luck! DAS

[@imran-ic6gc]

@@DASBookbinding Thank you for replying. The cut is pretty bad one side of the text block is angle while the other one isn't

[@betty1660]

How thick is the paper? I have tried unsuccessfully to cut a block of sheets of 80 gr, but also of 100 gr .. they tear...

[@DASBookbinding]

The paper is 80 gsm copier/bond paper. This is a very hard paper and is difficult to cut even with a real plough. If the paper is tearing out I think that means the blade is blunt (not sharp enough). I have another video on edge trimming using a chisel that works better. Good luck. DAS

[@betty1660]

@@DASBookbinding thank you very much!

[@smb2662]

Hi, which model is the stanley knife that worked better for you?

[@DASBookbinding]

FatMax 10-481 DAS

[@okamiseele8614]

Where can I buy a page plough?

[@DASBookbinding]

I highly recommend Jim Oliver equipment from Olive and Oak. facebook.com/oliveandoak/

[@queenbine362]

tried this and the cut the shit out of myself but that’s on me for not holding the ruler tightly 😎

[@DASBookbinding]

Och!

[@ekanshjain3980]

Can you give knife link or name ?

[@DASBookbinding]

Stanley Fat Max.

[@cupcakefight777]

Bandsaw card stock

[@DASBookbinding]

I don't have a bandsaw. Not sure I'd use it for books if I did.

[@julialim3512]

every time I tried to do that with a knife it was a disaster :(

[@jeffdern3487]

Once we're ready to graduate to a guillotine, is there one you recommend, or one to stay away from?

[@DASBookbinding]

I like used German made "Ideal" guillotines. New blades are easily available and they are common enough that the used price is usually a fraction of new. The downside is you should wait until you find the one you want. It might take 6 months (or more) for the right one to come along. The one I use had some surface rust and the back stop mechanism was seized. But the rust cleaned up well and I spent maybe 3 hours cleaning it up and adjusting it. It cost $140 and a new one would be about $3000. It was an older model but had all the modern safety features, except the cutter stick that can be pulled out from the end. But this is as much convenience as safety.