My old way of pressing books involved literal cinder blocks and prayer

I used to stack like 4 cinder blocks on top of my freshly glued books and hope for the best. It worked maybe half the time, the other half I'd get uneven pressure and wavy pages. Then about 6 months ago I finally broke down and bought a proper book press from a shop in Portland for $85. The difference is wild, my spines come out flat and even every single time now. I don't know why I waited so long, probably just stubbornness and not wanting to spend the money. Has anyone else dealt with a janky pressing setup that drove them crazy before upgrading?

2 comments

2 Comments

drew_patel571mo ago

Oh man, $85 actually seems pretty decent for a proper press, most places charge way more than that.

luna_clark381mo ago

That $85 press from Portland sounds like a steal honestly. @drew_patel57 is right that most shops charge way more for stuff like that. It's funny how we'll fight against spending money on the right tool but then blow like $40 on takeout without thinking twice, you know? I've noticed this pattern in my life too where I'll struggle with a janky setup for months before realizing the money saved isn't worth the headache. Like I used to cut all my book cloth with cheap scissors that gave me ragged edges until I spent $15 on a proper pair of shears. The upgrade changed everything, same as your press situation.