valc91•8d ago

That bookbinding workshop in Austin changed how I trim pages

Everyone there was raving about using a plough for trimming, but after 8 years of binding I grabbed a chisel and knocked out cleaner edges in half the time. Has anyone else ditched the fancy tools for something simpler?

3 comments

3 Comments

calebc408d ago

You ever actually tried a well-set plough though? A chisel works fine for rough stuff but getting those delicate 90 degree angles on handmade paper is way harder without one.

the_rowan8d ago

Oh man, "delicate 90 degree angles on handmade paper" is exactly where the plough shines. I remember the first time I tried doing that with just a chisel and it was a total disaster, the paper just crumbled at the edges. Once I finally got a properly set plough, it was like night and day, everything just clicked into place. You really need that fine control for the grain of handmade stuff, a chisel just hacks at it too much. Glad I'm not the only one who's been through that struggle.

sean_green448d ago

Nah, I gotta push back a bit here. @the_rowan I get what you're saying about handmade paper but honestly, a chisel just gives you way more control over the cut direction once you learn how to read the grain. I've trimmed a couple hundred sheets of washi-based stock with a sharp chisel and got perfect 90s without any crumbling. The plough always felt like fighting the paper, not working with it.