How to Repair Damaged Books

Although the internet has made books less appealing to some, books are still very much in demand, especially classic books and books that are used on a regular basis. There are some books people refer to again and again, such as dictionaries or medical books. Books that are opened time and time again eventually become worn, and they sometimes fall apart beyond repair. Don’t wait for a book to fall apart before trying to repair that book, and don’t just simply throw away books with loose covers, loose spines, cracked end papers, and loose or ripped pages. Damaged books can be fixed or repaired easily. Once a book is properly repaired, it can provide many more years of textual information. Try the following methods for repairing a damaged book and you’ll save that book from a premature death in the recycling bin.

Reattaching Loose Pages

To fix a loose page within a book, cut a 1/4 inch wide strip of matching paper that’s the same length of the page requiring repair. Fold the strip of paper evenly in half. Crease the paper on the fold, and apply white clear drying glue to the back of the strip. Place half of the paper strip on the unattached page, and the other half of the strip on the following page. Place a sheet of waxed paper inside the closed book to protect the book from seepage while the glue dries.

Mending Torn Pages

When the page of a book rips, many people just use a piece of tape to repair the tear. Taping a page usually isn’t a permanent fix. Tape becomes discolored and eventually loses its adhesive property. You can mend a torn page that will make the tear virtually invisible.

Begin repairing a ripped page by placing a piece of waxed paper beneath the tear. Carefully line up the borders of the tear, and brush clear drying white glue over the area with a small brush or cotton swab. Cover the mended area with a sheet of onion skin and rub your finger over the area using gentle pressure. Onion skin is very thin paper that can be found in most stores that sell office supplies. Continue the repair by placing a weight over the repaired page. After the glue has completely dried, remove the waxed paper, and carefully peal off the onion skin. Your newly repaired page should look as good as new.

Fixing a Cracked End Paper

To fix cracked end paper within a book, spread white clear drying glue into the crack. Trim a piece of waxed paper that will completely cover the crack and extend beyond it at least an inch. Fold the waxed paper in half lengthwise, and place it over the glued crack. This will prevent excess glue from damaging the book. Close the book with the wax paper inside, set a heavy item or other books on top of the book, and allow the book to sit undisturbed for about twenty-four hours. After the glue dries completely, for additional strength, place cloth tape over the repair.

Repairing a Loose Spine

A loose book spine can become very annoying, and the book could eventually fall apart if not repaired. Repair a loose book spine using a long cotton swab or paintbrush and clear drying white glue. Simply spread a thin layer of glue along the edges of the spine, and use gentle pressure to squeeze out any excess glue from both ends of the book. Wipe the edges of the spine with a clean damp cloth, and allow the book to set undisturbed for about twenty-four hours or until the glue has completely dried. If you have trouble keeping the back of the spine glued to the pages, set the spine against a hard surface. Cover that surface with a sheet of waxed paper, and stack books along the side to keep the repaired book closed. Stack additional books on top of the newly repaired book to keep the glued area compressed. After the glue dries, the spine of the book should be as good as new.

Fixing a Wobbly Book Cover

A wobbly book cover can be repaired very easily with the help of a toothpick and some clear drying white glue. Apply the glue along the joints using the tip of a toothpick. Shut the book and place other books on top for added weight. Allow the glue to dry completely before reopening the book. With proper care the repair should hold for many years to come.