Okay, here comes the final CHAPTER of this paperback endeavor.
Here I am on a practice cut, at the head. It turned out crooked so I set it up like this in an attempt to plane the odd edge.
I experimented with a variety of techniques here for plaining. The end result was acceptable but had quite a bit of wobble in the surface, smooth but not flat.
So I had realized that hobby knives have a fairly large chisel blade, #18. However, after searching for an hour I found my options for obtaining this blade at a reasonable price and same day was impossible. I broke down and purchased a set of medium grade chisels, something that I felt was long overdue anyway. At least they would come pre sharpened and should at least get me through the tail end of this project before I’d be force to DIVE into blade sharpening at home.
I was getting very tired and my hands were starting to fatigue at this point. Four straight days now of cutting by hand. I decided to go straight into the second final cut of the book, at the head. The chisel worked very well and it was actually a really fun technique to do, very satisfying, for about 5 minutes… The blades dulled before I even finished the cut. I finished the cut and it too turned out slanted. (image above)
Here I lost my cool and decided to use the chisel to plane it down and with a rubber mallet to drive it. This caused the chisel to sink down pushing my guides off course and cutting deep into the book. It even cut THROUGH my metal guide! I laughed.
This really sucked though because that rule is to my combination square which despite its low price has a really straight true 90° angle.
From here I reset up my guides and, VERY slowly and extra hard to do, recut the entire edge on a plane. At some point along this process I even tried a planer but the blade wasn’t sharp enough to function properly at least for now.
I did eventually get it done and cut flush, smooth and true.
I guess I just clamped the bejesus out of it at some point. This didn’t last long with the chisel as I could only do the starting edge before I needed to reposition the clamps behind my cut.
Finally it was time for the last cut on the face of the book and you know what? By this time I had so many different tools, trials and tribulations I just knocked it out in about a half hour. I went back to my little invention, the plunge cutter, since it only takes about 5 minutes to make a cut where as any other technique took over an HOUR! So I cut it, it turned out crooked as expected, I just figured I’d plane it down from there when I was like NO DUH just flip the book around and cut it again leading from the high edge. It totally worked. Then I just smoothed it out and here it finally is.
Holy shit was this a pain in the ass! four straight days working all day on this project. But you know what? The next one is going to be such a breeze in comparison. Worth it? Well, in personal value yes absolutely. This is a hobby after all. I’m starting on the next paperback now.
Here it is! It’s pretty effing legit!
I chose to cut into the inside cover and I actually like the aesthetic, it’s unique and completely functional.
On to the next!
