Before book binding, I didn’t even know bone folders were a thing. Now, I have trouble deciding which kind I want to use for the next book project! ? In this post, I’ll give a quick history of these awesome tools and then chat about all the different types and uses, plus provide a few options for alternatives to bone folders.
What is a bone folder?
A bone folder is a simple tool usually (but not always) made of polished animal bone, animal horns or Teflon. Most have one pointed end for scoring and one rounded end for smoothing. The long side of the tool is used to crease and smooth paper and boards. They’re usually about 6 inches in length, but can be anywhere from 4 to 12 inches and come in many shapes and sizes.
Bone folders are also used to delaminate, crease, burnish and score other materials like fabric and leather, so they’re not just for book binding.
If you don’t prefer to use animal products or polymers, you might be looking for some good alternatives. To pick a good substitute, it’s good to understand what makes bone such a desirable material in the first place.
What makes a “good” folder for bookbinding?
In book binding, we use bone folders to score, crease and smooth paper. When thinking about the “right” material for these purposes, there are five features to pay attention to. I’ll list them first and then give a quick review of why each is important.
- Non-stick
- Easy to shape
- Strong
- Smoothness
- Doesn’t leave visible marks
Non-stick
We use a lot of glue when making books, so it’s important for the folder to be non-stick. It should be easy to get the glue off even if it has dried.
Easy to shape
Bone folders and creasers come in all shapes and sizes for a reason. Most need a rounded end for applying pressure, a long and smooth end for running a crease and a pointed or tapered end for scoring and definition. The chosen material should be easy to manipulate.
Strong
The chosen material should fit well in your hand while also holding up to the handling it takes to crease tough materials like leather and multi-ply paper (such as book board).
Smoothness
Perhaps the most important feature is whether or not the material can be polished or made smooth. The smoothness of a bone folder lets us crease, fold and score even delicate papers without tears or damage.
Doesn’t leave visible marks
The folder used shouldn’t leave any visible marks on the paper. For example, some items have been painted or use silver in their composition, leaving gray or black marks when pulled across paper.
3 great alternatives to bone folders
You might just be able to find an adequate tool laying around the house if you don’t have a bone folder handy. Here are a couple recommendations.
Use your hands
Clean hands and fingers are an excellent way to fold and crease paper, especially if you’re just getting started. This is how I started out! While not recommended, I’ve even seen some people use a fingernail to score paper down the length of a ruler (using care not to cut themselves on the ruler – many use the rounded side instead). When creasing, just be sure your hands are clean and as dry of natural oils as they can be.
Citrus peeler
Have you ever used a citrus peeler before? I picked one up at a Pampered Chef party over a decade ago and it works great to score and crease paper. Since it’s made of solid dyed plastic, it won’t leave any color behind and is actually made to be held in your hand.
Retractable pen
Retractable pens are great for scoring paper with the pointed tip (while retracted) and creasing with the body. Just be sure to use a molded pen with dyed plastic to avoid getting any marks on the paper. Also, be careful with how much pressure you’re using if the pen is cheap or flimsy.
Others
Now that you know what’s important in a paper folder, scorer or creaser, take a look around your home and see if there are any useful alternatives. You can even use multiple tools (one for creasing and another for scoring) if it’s hard to find one tool to rule them all.
Pop over to Instagram or Facebook and share your alternatives to bone folders idea with me! I’d love to see what you’ve come up with!
Resources
- Are you new to bookbinding? Check out my New Bookbinder Guide for helpful information.
Take care!
ALL my best,
Misty
