Bound books

Steve Topper · Post by **Steve Topper** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 1:36 pm

dholden007 wrote:For those who have bound X-O (book I) is it better to use single issues
1-4 or the TPB... is there any significant difference, with gutter loss.
I have both.

I used the single issues, not the TPB. With the single issues, I didn't notice any gutter loss. Re: differences, I never considered using the TPB so I never looked into that option or any differences between the two.

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:54 pm

Steve Topper wrote:
dholden007 wrote:For those who have bound X-O (book I) is it better to use single issues
1-4 or the TPB... is there any significant difference, with gutter loss.
I have both.
I used the single issues, not the TPB. With the single issues, I didn't notice any gutter loss. Re: differences, I never considered using the TPB so I never looked into that option or any differences between the two.

Thanks Steve, Appreciate your response.

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:58 pm

IanAlexavier wrote:
dholden007 wrote:Anyone?
LOL.. well... I havent used a TPB just yet.. but I was thinking about it. I think I might have a problem with the covers not being actual covers.. they just feel different. I think there are times that the 'covers' are facing the 'wrong way'. The other thing is that Ive been able to pick up most of those issues for cheap anyway. If you wait around long enough, as around, or search at shops, you should be able to find the issues without any problems.

This is how Ive managed to do it.. even to find some of the most difficult book too: golds, variants, ect..

Binding is as individual as people are.

As far as gutter loss, Im thinking that there MIGHT be a little more.. but its not a killer. SOMETIMES you will notice this, for example, when there is a word balloon near the gutter. Otherwise its not something that Ive noticed.

Cool Thanks Ian. I just picked up the TBP for Alpha Omega to use for the Solar bind instead of using the removed pages from first 10 issues. I think it may work better. Did you do the same?

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:14 am

dholden007 wrote:
IanAlexavier wrote:
dholden007 wrote:Anyone?
LOL.. well... I havent used a TPB just yet.. but I was thinking about it. I think I might have a problem with the covers not being actual covers.. they just feel different. I think there are times that the 'covers' are facing the 'wrong way'. The other thing is that Ive been able to pick up most of those issues for cheap anyway. If you wait around long enough, as around, or search at shops, you should be able to find the issues without any problems.

This is how Ive managed to do it.. even to find some of the most difficult book too: golds, variants, ect..

Binding is as individual as people are.

As far as gutter loss, Im thinking that there MIGHT be a little more.. but its not a killer. SOMETIMES you will notice this, for example, when there is a word balloon near the gutter. Otherwise its not something that Ive noticed.
Cool Thanks Ian. I just picked up the TBP for Alpha Omega to use for the Solar bind instead of using the removed pages from first 10 issues. I think it may work better. Did you do the same?

Now, on Solar, that IS my plan. IIRC the insert pages are oddly thick and I think the TPB will work a little better. I will evaluate that as I start to play with that stack of books

Steve Topper · Post by **Steve Topper** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:05 pm

dholden007 wrote:Cool Thanks Ian. I just picked up the TBP for Alpha Omega to use for the Solar bind instead of using the removed pages from first 10 issues. I think it may work better. Did you do the same?

For Solar, I did use the TPB (misunderstood the previous question and answered solely re: X-O Manowar). As Ian pointed out the inserts in 1-10 were on a cardstock type of paper and seemed too thick to bind properly. Also, (and this is coming from memory, not looking at the individual issues) I think at least one of the inserts had some story page from from the regular issue, or something like that. Effectively, it wasn't a clean removal. So using the TPB made a lot more sense.

I also took the poster from the TPB and inserted it into my book. That made the experience complete.

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Fri May 21, 2010 6:33 pm

This really sucks! I spoke with James today and he told me that Library Binding will be closing for good ( had originally informed him that I will be submitting my next batch today and he told me at this point not to send anymore books).They did about 30 of my books in the last 2 months ( I have 10 there that I am waiting to be completed).

The good news is that him and the guy that runs Comicsgeekspeak website will be opening up a new place called WACO BOOK BINDERY, which should be up in a few months. The problem is I currently have about 60 prepped books ready to go out (11 were all packed to be shipped today) and are all over my living room.
I am not sure if I should wait...what if takes longer. Does anyone know anything else about this??? I really wanted to move these out in the next few weeks. ....I love their customer service and the books look great. I never tried Capitol, since its too expensive.

dave · Post by **dave** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:21 pm

how bad can the books look before you send 'em? in your opinion? I mean, I've got reader copies of all but 57 of the marvel GI Joe series and I've been thinking about it...but some are pretty beat up. Is it a huge concern or is it ideal?

Eternalwarrior68 · Post by **Eternalwarrior68** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:10 pm

dholden007 wrote:This really sucks! I spoke with James today and he told me that Library Binding will be closing for good ( had originally informed him that I will be submitting my next batch today and he told me at this point not to send anymore books).They did about 30 of my books in the last 2 months ( I have 10 there that I am waiting to be completed).

The good news is that him and the guy that runs Comicsgeekspeak website will be opening up a new place called WACO BOOK BINDERY, which should be up in a few months. The problem is I currently have about 60 prepped books ready to go out (11 were all packed to be shipped today) and are all over my living room.
I am not sure if I should wait...what if takes longer. Does anyone know anything else about this??? I really wanted to move these out in the next few weeks. ....I love their customer service and the books look great. I never tried Capitol, since its too expensive.

that sucks, I was planning on sending a couple projects in also.

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:23 pm

dholden007 wrote:This really sucks! I spoke with James today and he told me that Library Binding will be closing for good ( had originally informed him that I will be submitting my next batch today and he told me at this point not to send anymore books).They did about 30 of my books in the last 2 months ( I have 10 there that I am waiting to be completed).

The good news is that him and the guy that runs Comicsgeekspeak website will be opening up a new place called WACO BOOK BINDERY, which should be up in a few months. The problem is I currently have about 60 prepped books ready to go out (11 were all packed to be shipped today) and are all over my living room.
I am not sure if I should wait...what if takes longer. Does anyone know anything else about this??? I really wanted to move these out in the next few weeks. ....I love their customer service and the books look great. I never tried Capitol, since its too expensive.

Ive never had a problem with LBC... even when they made a mistake they allowed me to ship them back, they fixed the problems and sent them back to me. Real good guys.

With that being said.. Im not sure what the problems are there. Wish I knew.

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:27 pm

dave wrote:how bad can the books look before you send 'em? in your opinion? I mean, I've got reader copies of all but 57 of the marvel GI Joe series and I've been thinking about it...but some are pretty beat up. Is it a huge concern or is it ideal?

Reader copies are fine.. I prefer sending in beat up books anyways. Remember, you will loose at least 1/8th of an inch off the spine and the same along each side when they trip the books even. Other than that you will need to live with whatever quality paper you send in.

I think you have a good plan.

Steve Topper · Post by **Steve Topper** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:28 pm

dave wrote:how bad can the books look before you send 'em? in your opinion? I mean, I've got reader copies of all but 57 of the marvel GI Joe series and I've been thinking about it...but some are pretty beat up. Is it a huge concern or is it ideal?

Reader copies are fine. If the pages are intact, but look bad and the edges are ragged, binding (trimming) actually makes them look better. Many of my Batman and Superman books that I bound contained nothing but reader copies. Those were the issues I bought off the rack in the 1960s and kept/re-read for years -- nary a NM issue in the bunch

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:50 pm

dave wrote:how bad can the books look before you send 'em? in your opinion? I mean, I've got reader copies of all but 57 of the marvel GI Joe series and I've been thinking about it...but some are pretty beat up. Is it a huge concern or is it ideal?

As Steve said, reader copies are more than fine. The only problem could be if the pages are too brittle they may not be able to bind them if the paper falls apart. I have sent in plenty of G grade books and with the trimming they look a lot better once binded.

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Fri May 21, 2010 9:53 pm

Ian or Steve... did either of you ever use Capitol?

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Fri May 21, 2010 10:15 pm

dholden007 wrote:Ian or Steve... did either of you ever use Capitol?

Nope.. Ive always gone with Library. I have a box full of books I will want to send out during the summer.. I hope the new company is up and running.

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Fri May 21, 2010 10:32 pm

IanAlexavier wrote:
dholden007 wrote:Ian or Steve... did either of you ever use Capitol?
Nope.. Ive always gone with Library. I have a box full of books I will want to send out during the summer.. I hope the new company is up and running.

I WISH! its not, he said about 2 months or so, but he doesnt know yet. Thats the problem with me I have so many books all prepped and ready to mail. I really dont have the patience, but what choice do I have.

I should have mentioned in my orginal post that the new company will be devoted only to binding comics. Not sure how far he is into launching the company at this point but hopefully the comic binding business will be strong enough to maintain itself. Without the business from the libraries, church groups, will they still be able to offer the $15 basic-bind?
There is a lot of competition, I think LB was great!

Steve Topper · Post by **Steve Topper** » Sat May 22, 2010 5:30 pm

I've used Capitol when I bound Wednesday Comics. David banks had a special binding opportunity for that specific book. It cost me $80 but it was VERY oversized.

I've also bought bound volumes from friends that had them done at Capitol. Quality-wise, they are second-to-none. But to my knowledge, $50/book means I could have gotten two books done at Capitol instead of 5 at LBC. And with 131 books and counting completed, that would have been a lot of extra cash put out.

Right now, I have five or six books ready to ship out and around 25 more in various stages of planning. So I'm going to sit tight and see what is the next step in reasonable priced binding.

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Sat May 22, 2010 6:21 pm

For anyone looking for a damaged A&A GOLD for their bind.. Elveen has one for $10 in the sales area

HURRY HURRY!! LOL

PhoneyBone · Post by **PhoneyBone** » Sat May 22, 2010 11:07 pm

Here's some of the books I got last week from LCB.

...and a double volume of The Punisher (1987) issues 1-25 & 26-50

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Sun May 23, 2010 7:39 am

Ha, I sure like the look of that Punisher book

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Sun May 23, 2010 10:19 am

What do you guys think of this? Especially for those that use head & tail bands not a bad deal...the only problem I have is that a nice 2 inch book would cost $35 and only 1 line of writing on spine.

http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.co ... -2010.html

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Sun May 23, 2010 12:09 pm

dholden007 wrote:What do you guys think of this? Especially for those that use head & tail bands not a bad deal...the only problem I have is that a nice 2 inch book would cost $35 and only 1 line of writing on spine.

http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.co ... -2010.html

Looks ok.. Im a little concerned that the style of bind wont match what I currently have on my books..

Oh well, they are just books I guess.

robb77 · Post by **robb77** » Sun May 23, 2010 5:37 pm

cool design on the punisher

PhoneyBone · Post by **PhoneyBone** » Sun May 23, 2010 5:51 pm

dholden007 wrote:What do you guys think of this? Especially for those that use head & tail bands not a bad deal...the only problem I have is that a nice 2 inch book would cost $35 and only 1 line of writing on spine.

http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.co ... -2010.html

Yeah, that's kind of a deal breaker for me. Not just that any bind I make is at least 1 and a half inch but with only one line of additional writing I would have to chose either a description or the publisher. Not to mention that "Complete First Series" or a description like that, isnt likely to fit on one line.

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Sun May 23, 2010 7:19 pm

Steve Topper wrote:I've used Capitol when I bound Wednesday Comics. David banks had a special binding opportunity for that specific book. It cost me $80 but it was VERY oversized.

I've also bought bound volumes from friends that had them done at Capitol. Quality-wise, they are second-to-none. But to my knowledge, $50/book means I could have gotten two books done at Capitol instead of 5 at LBC. And with 131 books and counting completed, that would have been a lot of extra cash put out.

Right now, I have five or six books ready to ship out and around 25 more in various stages of planning. So I'm going to sit tight and see what is the next step in reasonable priced binding.

Curious, what exaclty does the $50 include (besides return shipping)...what about the look/quality makes Capitol better than LCB? I am a bit tempted....

dholden007 · Post by **dholden007** » Tue May 25, 2010 6:29 pm

Did anyone get the HouchenBindery (the company that bought LBC)packet in the mail? I called them up and spoke with an Angel Dale-she said they purchased their entire binding inventory including all the dies. The prices will go slightly higher but not more than $20 per basic bind...it will take about a month for them to set everything up. They are moving everything to Nebraska (which appears to be the binding capital of the world) Hopefuly James will have his company up soon.