How do you fix Crappy Spine Syndrome?

[Psion]

You obviously didn't own a copy of Unearthed Arcana 1e...

Indeed. Within a few week, mine was more like a pamphlet than a book.

 

[Psion]

Anyway, my solution (thanks NG boards). I have had to do this with Tome of Horrors and multiple FFG books.

Go to your local craft store (Michaels, for example) and pick up a bottle of Allene's Tacky Glue. The basic stuff comes in a gold bottle, and should be $2 or less. And pick up a long thin craft stick or something similar if you don't have it. Allene's is similar to Elmer's glue, but is more flexible when it dries.

Open the book with the spine vertical so the gapping begins. Squeeze a modest amount of the glue so it drips down the inside of the spine, and use the craft stick to spread it evenly. Then lay the book flat in a dry warm place for a few days.

Seems to have done the trick for me.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Psion, thanks for that method. I may give it a try of a few books that I've been going easy on due to the spine coming apart (ToH being one of them)

 

[Ghost2020]

I used wood glue, but same method. I have a few Everquest books, Tome of Horrors and a few other Sword & Sorcery spine issues.

The wood glue seems to have worked, but I would've tried the method above (tacky glue) had I known of it.

Yeah, their spines are something else.

 

[frankthedm]

Aleenn's, wood glue or elmers glue are all very similar glues. i use more of a "fill the spine & press with other books" with said glue and let it dry. it works well enough.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Psion, thanks for that method. I may give it a try of a few books that I've been going easy on due to the spine coming apart (ToH being one of them)

Does anyone have a Tome of Horrors that ISN'T coming apart?

Really, it's to the point if I'm on the fence about a product, and it's a White-Wolf/S&S hardcover, I'll just skip it since I know the book'll fall apart in 2-3 weeks.

Who's in charge of quality over a WW anyway.

Thanks to everyone! I'll try some of your ideas this weekend, and see how it turns out.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Does anyone have a Tome of Horrors that ISN'T coming apart?

Really, it's to the point if I'm on the fence about a product, and it's a White-Wolf/S&S hardcover, I'll just skip it since I know the book'll fall apart in 2-3 weeks.

I've got plenty of other WW books that have no spine issues, and see just as much (if not more) use as ToH. The worst of the bunch have been ToH and Relics & Rituals, though.

 

[trancejeremy]

I think the Book of Templates just uses what is called a "Hollow back binding".

http://www.thebookbinder.com/html/structure.htm

Basically, the back cover is not attached to the spine of the book. Blackmoor, also from them also does it. As does Spycraft 2.0.

 

[Psion]

I think the Book of Templates just uses what is called a "Hollow back binding".

http://www.thebookbinder.com/html/structure.htm

I'm unconvinced. The construction looks almost the same as my Slavelords of Cydonia, in which the spine is flush with the pages.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

This reminds me of how AWESOME the AD&D 1E books were. My PHB was used and abused (thrown and stomped on) and never showed the slightest indication that it was coming apart.

I would have paid far more for my 3e books if they had the same characteristics. I can't help but say, "they don't make them like they used to!"

I'm getting old.

Damn.

The covers were made of something indestructible too. Nowadays the corners get crumpled and the front and back get scratched, but those old 1e covers were reinforced with something powerful.