FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need an appointment to visit your studio?

Yes. All studio visits are conducted by appointment only. Please contact us via phone or email to set up a meeting to discuss your project. Studio visits are conducted Monday-Friday, 10am to 6pm.

For restoration/repair inquiries please include a few pictures of your book showing the current condition of the spine, pages, and cover boards.

How much will my project cost?  

We base our estimates on a combination of time and materials. There is a minimum charge of $60.

While we do our best to provide an accurate estimate before a project begins, it is occasionally the case that unforeseen costs arise as the work unfolds. The prices below are examples and are meant to give a general idea of the cost of a typical project.

All prices are + HST.

  • Large family bible restoration/repairs - $600-$900

  • Cloth reback - $125-$160

  • Leather reback - $220-$320

  • New cloth binding - $90-$160

  • New leather binding (locally available garment leather): $200-$400

  • New leather binding (imported goatskin): $380-$650

  • Clamshell Box: $200-$350

  • Slipcase: $100-$150

Please note:

Consultation fees are usually built into the estimate provided but can change based on the complexity of the project.

SIZE MATTERS. Generally the larger the book, the more time and materials will be required.

Additional details such as stamping, gold/blind tooling, and other decoration may impact the prices listed above.

How long will my project take?

Usually, work is undertaken in the order it is received. However, we can work to a deadline if the schedule permits. Even small projects take several days to complete to allow for sufficient drying time. During busy months it is not unusual to have to wait 6-8 weeks for your project to be ready for you.

What Materials can you bind my book in?

Our studio has a wide variety of materials for you to choose from for your project. We stock a variety of book cloths in different colours and finishes. We also have a variety of leathers to choose from. We bind books in both locally available garment leather and true bookbinding leather (the latter of which is imported from England).  We can place special orders for both cloth and leather, but it is important to add enough time to the schedule to allow us to bring the material into the studio.

Sometimes, we bind books in a custom cloth, such as silk or linen that is purchased in a fabric store. When this is the case, we usually have to make some adjustments (such as mounting the cloth to paper) to allow us to use it successfully.

Does your studio provide printing services?

No, our studio is strictly a bindery.

We can provide references to printing houses in Toronto and are happy to consult with you on questions that arise regarding the printing of your material.

We bind books printed in single sheets or signatures. Single sheet books will become 'perfect bindings'; which in our studio means we drill a series of tiny holes along the bound edge and sew the text block. Books printed in signatures are hand-sewn through the backs of the sections. "Signature sewn" books open more fully and they lie more flat when they are open than perfect bindings.

Please Note: We strongly recommend that you instruct the printer to print your pages on paper with the correct grain. The grain of the paper should run in the same direction as the spine of the book. Books printed on paper where the grain runs in the wrong direction will not function nearly as well. They will feel stiff and be difficult to open to the gutter.

What are Stamping Dies?

We can deboss the titles of books in our studio using our typefaces (Edinburgh and Garamond in a couple of sizes). These simple typefaces can give elegant titling to your book on the cover and spine and can be stamped in a variety of foil colours.

However, many people have a specific logo or typeface in mind when they design their project. When this is the case, we can have custom artwork turned into a stamping die. You provide us with a PDF image of your art which we forward to the die maker. Our required specs for your artwork are:

  • Artwork must not exceed 2.75"x6”

  • Artwork must be true black on a white background and must be in PDF or AI Vector format

  • Fine lines generally stamp better than thicker lines and lines of similar weight throughout the artwork are recommended

  • Stamping die production requires extra time; if you wish to have one made, please add a few days to your final project deadline. Price of the the die is calculated by the square inch, with a minimum charge of $47. A large die can cost upwards of $200.00

Stamping is achieved by applying heat and pressure through the die to the cloth or leather that your book is bound in. Our ability to stamp cleanly is determined both by the material you choose for binding and the complexity of the image that you are stamping. Leather typically stamps more cleanly than cloth, but both will give good results.