How to Protect Hardcover Book Corners

Do you have an old tattered book that you just hate the thought of having to throw out because you love the story? Perhaps you have an old college textbook that you still use as reference, that needs some TLC to keep from falling apart? Mending your books yourself can potentially save you money, not to mention it fixes your books and can prevent further damage. Here's how to mend and/or protect the spine ends and corners of your book cover.

Corners

1. Mend the binding first, if necessary.
2. 

    Four inch long strips of tape waiting for use.
   Cut a four inch (10 cm) piece of 2" (5cm) wide book mending tape for each corner to be mended.
3. 

    Tape placement for corner repair/protection.
   Place the tape diagonally across the corner of the book so that:
   
   • The edge away from you overlaps both the vertical and the horizontal edges of the cover.
   • The long edge closest to you overhangs the corner.
4. Press firmly to eliminate any bubbles and to ensure good adhesion.
5. 

    Cut slits, being careful to leave the middle "tab" attached at the corner.
   

    View of cuts and tabs from underside of tape.
   Cut the overlapping edge twice. Once in line with the vertical edge and once in line with the horizontal edge.Leave the center "flap" attached to the rest of the tape.
   
   • Note: Leaving the flap attached ensures that your corner will be completely covered in tape, with none of the original (damaged) corner showing.
6. 

    Fold middle flap/tab in first and press firmly.
   Pull the center "flap" snugly over the corner and press to the inside of the cover.
7. 

    Right tab going into place.
   

    Left side getting firmly pulled into place.
   

    Pressing left tab firmly to ensure good adhesion.
   Pull the side flap(s) snugly over the edge(s) of the book and press firmly to eliminate bubbles and ensure good adhesion.
   
   • Take care to avoid leaving any "tunnel" along the edge of the book. This will only speed deterioration of the cover. Pull the tape snugly over the edge of the book.
8. Repeat for all damaged corners (or for any corners you wish to protect).

Spine Ends

1. 

    Tape
   Cut a piece of tape equal in length to the width of your book plus three to four inches (6-10cm).
2. 

    Cutting folded tape.
   Fold the tape strip in half with sticky side facing out.
3. Cut a half inch (1.5cm), angled, snip into one edge of the tape.
4. 

    Tape with "tab" torn/cut out to form a divot that is the width of your books' spine.
   Tear or cut off the resulting "tab".
5. 

    Stick tape to spine as shown. Leave 1/4 inch (5mm) mm of tape showing above the spine end.
   Place the tape on the spine of the book so that the bottom of the "U" shaped divot is 1/4 inch(5mm) above the end of the spine.
6. Press the tape firmly against the spine.
7. 

    Wrap the tape around the book, taking care to press it into the gutter before putting it into contact with the front cover.
   Wrap the tape around the edge of the book and into the "gutter", press firmly into the gutter.
8. Press the tape out beyond the gutter onto the book cover itself. Eliminate bubbles to ensure good adhesion.
9. Repeat for opposite side.
10. With the book on its edge, open both covers.
11. 

     Press flaps over the edge and down onto the inside of the cover.
    Pull the "flaps" of tape firmly and snugly down over the edges of the cover near the spine. Take care not to leave any "tunnel" of air between the tape and book edge.
12. 

     Roll the center "divot" area down over and stick to itself, forming a neat, folded edge.
    

     Finished spine end.
    Pull the covers slightly in the direction away from the book to stretch the mending tape slightly and allow you to roll down the center of the "divot" into a folded/rolled edge.
    
    • Note: book tape in a single layer tears fairly easily. Tape folded onto itself in two layers not only looks neat, but will stay clean and will not rip easily.
13. 

     Book with all four corners and both spine ends mended.
    Repeat for any other spine ends that need reinforcement or protection.
    

• Never use "packing" tape or "duct" tape on a book. The first will peel loose in about 3 years. The second will turn to goo in the same amount of time and will ruin your book. Do not use scotch tape either. The adhesive layer will fail after a few years.
• Use appropriate caution when using edged tools such as scissors.

• This will decrease the value of the book.