What types of businesses cut the spines off of books?

u238110 · 04-06-2014, 06:32 AM

What types of businesses should I look for to have the spines of books removed? And can all of these places do hardcover books?

I'm under the impression that separating the pages from a book manually is pretty laborious as you have to do a final step that involves cutting all the pages with a paper cutter so that they're clean enough to be inserted into the page feeder, and this requires a person to cut the pages in small stacks.

Iain · 04-07-2014, 04:36 AM

Many printers have guillotines which will cut off the spines as will any book-binder.

If you have loads to do you could think about buying one. Mine cost about £200 ($320) from ebay a few years ago and has done about 1200 books.

Using a manual guillotine is a bit of an art, I've found.

I've fixed the support that holds the book edge in place and move the book around with some shims (thin pieces of plastic). The width of a 'standard' paperback varies by over 1/4 of an inch - even between books in the same series published at the same time!

Also, I've stuck some high friction material (intended to stop chopping boards moving) on the base which reduces the amount the book moves into the blade as it is chopped.

These issues may be unique to me or my guillotine, but if not I hope this is helpful.

Iain

Toxaris · 04-07-2014, 04:53 AM

A lot of copy shops have a guillotine available. I personally have this one at home

, but those are expensive (I got a good deal...)

Jellby · 04-07-2014, 05:06 AM

A good print shop will have something like this:

HarryT · 04-07-2014, 01:30 PM

My local printer is happy to do it for me for free (although the fact that I buy all my stationery supplies from him probably helps).

Any printer will have a guillotine.

u238110 · 04-12-2014, 11:42 PM

Thanks guys. So just look for copy shops and printing shops? There's the phone book... are there any digital directories you recommend? Craigslist, Google Maps...

04-06-2014, 06:32 AM	#1
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	What types of businesses cut the spines off of books? What types of businesses should I look for to have the spines of books removed? And can all of these places do hardcover books? I'm under the impression that separating the pages from a book manually is pretty laborious as you have to do a final step that involves cutting all the pages with a paper cutter so that they're clean enough to be inserted into the page feeder, and this requires a person to cut the pages in small stacks.

04-07-2014, 04:53 AM	#3
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	A lot of copy shops have a guillotine available. I personally have this one at home, but those are expensive (I got a good deal...)

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04-07-2014, 04:36 AM	#2
Iain Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 14 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Harrogate, England Device: iPad	Many printers have guillotines which will cut off the spines as will any book-binder. If you have loads to do you could think about buying one. Mine cost about £200 ($320) from ebay a few years ago and has done about 1200 books. Using a manual guillotine is a bit of an art, I've found. I've fixed the support that holds the book edge in place and move the book around with some shims (thin pieces of plastic). The width of a 'standard' paperback varies by over 1/4 of an inch - even between books in the same series published at the same time! Also, I've stuck some high friction material (intended to stop chopping boards moving) on the base which reduces the amount the book moves into the blade as it is chopped. These issues may be unique to me or my guillotine, but if not I hope this is helpful. Iain

04-07-2014, 05:06 AM	#4
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	A good print shop will have something like this:

04-07-2014, 01:30 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	My local printer is happy to do it for me for free (although the fact that I buy all my stationery supplies from him probably helps). Any printer will have a guillotine.

04-12-2014, 11:42 PM	#6
u238110 Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Aura, N514KUBKKEP, 4.7.10.413	Thanks guys. So just look for copy shops and printing shops? There's the phone book... are there any digital directories you recommend? Craigslist, Google Maps...

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