I used to think a bone folder was just for creasing paper

I was working on a leather cover in my garage last spring, trying to smooth out a stubborn air bubble under the cloth. My friend, who runs a small bindery in Denver, saw me struggling and said, 'Try the rounded end of your bone folder like a burnisher.' I pressed and rubbed it in small circles along the edge of the bubble for about ten minutes. The heat from the friction slowly worked the adhesive flat and saved the whole piece. Has anyone else found a weird second use for a basic tool like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

pat_coleman2mo ago

Wait, you were using wood glue on leather? Honestly that's a wild choice.

the_holly2mo ago

Nice save. That friction trick is smart. What kind of adhesive were you using that reacted to the heat like that? I've only ever had that work with certain types of paste.

adamgreen2mo ago

Honestly, I bet the humidity in your workshop changes how that trick works too.

the_holly2mo ago

Oh it was just a basic wood glue! Did you try warming the pieces before you pressed them together? I found that getting them both a little warm first made the bond set way faster with the friction.