The first step in edge paringProgressively paring into a skin
Are you leather curious? Interested in larger issues of hand craft? Then you will enjoy this zoom presentation on the craft of hand paring leather. Both practical and theoretical aspects of hand and tool interaction will be explored. Leather is a three dimensional material, and selectively reducing the thickness is essential for making a well functioning binding.
I will begin by showing some historic examples of leather paring, then to demonstrate the process of paring vegetable tanned leather using just one knife. Have a seat, make yourself comfortable, grab your beverage of choice and a snack, then enjoy watching the relaxing progress of gradually paring leather. While working, I will attempt to narrate — like a homunculi in my head — some of the complex decisions that go on in this process. As the leather gets thinner and thinner, excitement will mount: will I ruin the skin by tearing it? Towards the end of the demo, there will be time for Q&A and comments from the audience.
This presentation is based on my recent article, On Tool Embodiment, and I encourage everyone to read it beforehand.
Jeff Peachey: The Craft of Hand-Paring Leather. Sponsored by the American Bookbinder’s Museum. Saturday November 12, 4pm EST. Zoom. Attendees will have access to a recording after the event.
It is a great feeling to use a tool you have custom designed to fit your hand and working methods.
Making tools is not only engaging and fun, but entirely practical since the result is set of tools you can use daily. Book conservators, other conservators, bookbinders, technicians, artists and others will find this workshop valuable. Filing, scraping and polishing are meditative activities, no previous experience required. Working Delrin and bamboo is a great way to start toolmaking and we will make folders, lifting tools, microspatulas, hera, and creasing tools. Most of the skills and techniques taught are transferable to wood and bone toolmaking too. Fair warning: making your own tools is highly addictive!
Thankfully, the pandemic is subsiding in New York, but I originally created this workshop specifically to teach online with a kit, and it has worked well for the past four sessions, so I will keep it up for a while. So far 49 students from 7 countries have completed this workshop.
All aspects of making tools with delrin and bamboo will be discussed in detail: design considerations, cutting, filing, rough shaping, final shaping, and polishing. The workshop consists of two 3- hour synchronous zoom sessions with PPT’s, videos, discussion of handouts, demonstrations, Q&A chat sessions, and working together. Also included is one month access to web resources, PPTs and videos demonstrating key techniques.
The workshop includes a kit with enough materials to make nine tools with a retail value over $300. A set of hand tools is also included: a cherry bench hook, scraper, burnisher, a file for plastics, and a variety of sanding and polishing supplies. All you need is a stable work surface, a few common hand tools, and some time to work outside of class.
DATES: There will be three sessions: September 11 + 18, October 16 + 23, November 13 + 20
International participants need to contact me confirming they wish to attend, I will save a seat and send you an invoice enabling you to pay by credit card. I will hold the seat for 24 hours after I send the invoice. The cost is $440 Canada, $465 EU and other countries, and $490 Australia and New Zealand. This includes kit shipping. Up to 3 kits can ship in one box internationally, so if you place one order for 2 or 3 people there will be substantial shipping savings, with the second and third places costing $390.
SCHOLARSHIP
A generous patron has offered a scholarship (worth $390 — $490) for the “Delrin and Bamboo Toolmaking Workshop”, to be held November 13 + 20, 2021. The award is intended for a book conservator, bookbinder, or technician new to the profession, with less than five years working experience, who is in need of financial assistance. Domestic and international applications are welcome.
To apply, contact me with the subject heading “Tool Making Scholarship Fall 2021”.
The application should consist of two paragraphs, the first explaining why this scholarship is necessary to the applicant, the second detailing how it would benefit the applicant’s work. Applications are due September 1, and the successful candidate notified September 7. Submission not adhering to this application process will not be considered, and unsuccessful candidates will not be notified.
Some versions of the tools you will make in this workshop.
The Fox Folder is ideal for miniature bookbinding.
The Fox Folder is a miniature version of a larger bone folder that Gabrielle Butler gradually modified over for years to fit her working methods. Reducing the size for miniature books proved challenging, since it had to function like the original while being comfortable to hold.
This is a precision tool that can be used for all aspects of miniature binding. One end is rounded, and can be used for drawing down a line or getting into a tight area. The other is angled to get into corners both when building and covering miniature boxes. One side is straight and rounded for smoothing, the other thinner for detail work. The back is flatter, ideal for little turn-ins and board edges when covering. Although this description sounds complex, it becomes easily embodied in use.
Gabrielle Fox Butler is an internationally known bookbinder who specializes in miniature books. She has had a long interest in developing new tools and equipment for miniature bookbinding, including consulting on design with Frank Weisner for his presses and Jeff Peachey for this tool.
Delrin is an ideal material for the Fox Folder since it combines durability with a low coefficient of friction. This tool is a great way to improve the accuracy and quality of your miniature bindings. Supplied in a protective storage tube. The Fox Folder. The price is for one folder, the images show both ends.
Peachey Conservation 