Side sewing is one of the most common and reliable ways to make FlexBind® Books. Books up to 1/2 inch thick can be sewn to make reliable, archival bound books. Thicker books can be side sewn with some modifications to equipment or binding process, typically by pre-punching or drilling the holes before sewing together. General sewing recommendations are listed below:
- Use standard bookbinding thread.
- Do not sew into the laminate. The laminate is indented into the paper which makes that specific area as hard as a rock. For best results, sew 1 mm away from the laminate
- Do not sew into the gap. Each nick of the laminte gap is a starting point for the laminate to tear. Similar to packing tape, it is extremely strong till a nick or tear is introduced, then it comes apart quite easily. This point also relates to trimming. It is extremely important to use a sharp knife so as to cleanly cut the film across the gap.
- Use of a heavier gauge needle can assist in sewing thicker books. If needles consistently break, make sure that the sewing location is off the laminate. Alternately, a different paper can be used.
- Books too thick to side-sew should be considered for side-stitching.
There are several models and brands to choose from when binding FlexBind® pages with Side Sewing.
Common Book Sewing Machines on the Market