Repair for a Torn Book Spine

This reference book has a spine separating from the rest of the book. Except for that, the book's binding is pristine. I want to repair this tear so I do not lose the spine as the opening will surely grow with future use. I want the repair to add no thickness to the volume so it will still fit into the slipcase I made for it with pine wood and Masonite. See the second photo.

Materials

1. Strip of cloth
2. A good glue
3. Masking tape

Tools

1. Thin wooden paddle
2. Scissors

I decided on a plan that provides a new cloth hinge between the spine and the front cover. It does not need to be any longer than the tear as it is. There is no need to remove the spine.

My wife informed me cloth stretches when pulled in one direction, but does not stretch when pulled in a direction 90 degrees from the direction in which it stretches. I cut a strip of cloth about an inch wide that will stretch along its length. When in place, the book cover and spine will keep it from stretching after the glue dries. I chose a cloth made from a natural fiber because because I believe the woodworker's glue I am using will adhere better to a natural fiber than to something synthetic made from spun plastic.

The second image explains my plan for a new cloth hinge. The joint of the book is the curved indentation where the cover or case meets the spine. I applied an adequate amount of glue to the joint edge on the body of the book and on the remaining cloth from the cover or case. If there is no remaining loose or separated cloth, videos on book repair show using a knife tip to separate cloth from the book cover very carefully. I also applied an adequate amount of glue to the underside of the separated cloth. See the second image The green color in the image represents where glue was applied.

As a first step glue the replacement cloth strip on both sides as shown and pat down the cloth covering on the book cover or case. Wait a little for the glue to begin to set so it does not pull out of place when working on the portion of the cloth extending freely into the air.

After a bit of time has passed, tuck the remaining portion of the cloth between the spine and the body of the book. Use a wooden paddle like the one shown in the photo from the previous step to smear an adequate amount of glue on the inner portion of the spine where it will contact the cloth. See the second photo. I patted down areas receiving glue and applied masking tape to hold everything in place until the glue is dry. I waited most of a day to be certain the glue had reached full strength before attempting to use the book.

This is the final result of my repair. It does not look factory new. But, no bulk was added to increase the size of the book. It still fits my protective slipcase as well as before. I was able to pull the tear together enough that any dissimilarity between the color of the new cloth hinge and the original color of the book's cover does not matter. True, I did repair only what was torn. But, the location of the damage is exactly where one's hand goes to hold the book while using it. Should more of the original cloth hinge tear, I can repair that as a separate repair.

Book repair videos I have watched show removing the spine and adding new material that covers the entire spine. That gives the book a new look I did not want. Those repairs also made the book thicker and my slipcase would no longer fit.

I have been using this book and it works and feels like new.