tools – Peachey Conservation

September 2, 2025

Delrin Toolmaking Workshop. NBSS, Boston, October 4-5, 2025

Some tools you can make in this workshop, or design your own.

Making Delrin Tools by Hand for Bookbinders and Conservators. Register here!

This is a rare chance to take a two day Delrin toolmaking workshop. Anyone who needs small hand tools for manipulating, delaminating, spreading adhesive, etc. is welcome. Making tools is engaging, fun, and practical. Delrin is an excellent material for many bookbinding and conservation tools, such as folders, lifting tools, microspatulas, hera, and creasing tools. We will work together designing, roughing out and finishing of several tools. Working Delrin is a meditative activity, no previous experience required. Safe, low dust methods of working Delrin will be emphasized. This workshop is a great opportunity to geek out with other tool lovers. After the workshop you will have some useful new tools, and possess the know-how to alter, maintain, and make more variants. Warning: tool making is highly addictive.

North Bennett Street School, Boston Mass. October 4-5 2025. Register here!

November 30, 2024

Casing Rib

What happens when you hybridize a bookbinder’s folding rib and a case folder? You get the Casing Rib.

The potter’s rib was adapted for bookbinding by Christine Cox, who made her version out of Teflon. It is used by many bookbinders for repetitive covering tasks, folding, creasing, etc. A Bakelite case folder is a more traditional tool for similar tasks. The case folder is first recorded being used by the Harcourt Bindery in 1972 according to Sam Ellenport; likely earlier.

On the left is an case folder from Harcourt. A worn case folder is pictured in Kim Jinsub’s 2016 *Book Tools*.

Not to Goldilocks it too much; but for me, the teflon rib is too small and narrow, and the case folder is too large. Teflon, though wonderfully slippery, wears rapidly. Harcourts’ case folder is made from a Bakelite phenolic laminated material which doesn’t slide very easily. Daniel Mellis made an experimental stainless steel rib, which I enjoyed using, and it prompted my own search for a better size and material.

So the casing rib was born.

Made from black Delrin, the large size is easy to grasp and apply pressure directly downwards. I use it for turning-in, general smoothing, box making, and more. Delrin is non-marking like Teflon, and more than twice as abrasion resistant.

The Casing Rib. Black Delrin, textured sides, rounded top edge, and sharp edges on the bevels. Handmade, sizes vary slightly, ~ 2.25 x 6 x .25 inches.

“Jeff, this tool is the best. It feels so nice to work with. I’m doing a big edition and using it repetively has been nothing but joy. Doesn’t hurt the wrist. My old case folder would sometimes snap my fingers down if I wasn’t careful. 10/10.” – Purchased by Gabby Cooksey

November 14, 2024

Upcoming Lecture, “John J. Bradford: A Knight of the Folding Stick.” Monday November 25, 2024, 3:30 – 5:00. Boston, MA.

Frontispiece to Bradford’s 1815 “The Poetical Vagaries of a Knight of the Folding-Stick of Paste-Castle.

A Presentation by Jeff Peachey
Monday November 25th, 2024

3:30-5:00pm

North Bennet Street School

150 North Street

Boston MA

John J. Bradford: A Knight of the Folding Stick. In this illustrated lecture, book conservator and lapsed poet Jeff Peachey traces the life of John Bradford and interprets his bookbinding-centric poetry. Particular attention will be paid to the 19th century bookbinding tools he describes, and is in fact made of in the frontispiece above. Bradford was a lifelong journeyman bookbinder in early 19th century New York City.

Not only are John Bradford’s poems a lot of fun, but his book is the earliest American description of bookbinding written by an actual bookbinder. Only twelve copies are held in institutions. Bradford was an odd character parts of the book are written in hieroglyphics. This presentation is based on his recent publication, “The Binder’s Curse: John Bradford and Early Nineteenth-Century American Bookbinding” In Suave Mechanicals: Essays in the History of Bookbinding, Volume 8.

At the conclusion, we will read selections from “The Binder’s Curse” aloud. Join us for geeky bookbinder fun! Non-bookbinders are welcome.

Registration is not required. Open to the public.