📖 The Secret to Crisp, Clean Book Edges (Without a Fancy Guillotine)

If you've ever struggled to get clean, straight cuts on a book’s edge, you’re not alone. Trimming a book block can be tricky—guillotines aren’t always available, and chisels take a lot of skill to get right. But there’s a tool that solves this problem beautifully: the book plough.

A book plough is designed to trim book edges with precision, slicing through stacked pages effortlessly. It’s a tool that’s been used for centuries in fine bookbinding, and the best part? You can make one yourself. (get the plan here)

In my latest video, I walk through everything there is to know about the book plough, how to sharpen and set it up, and why it works so much better than other methods. Whether you're a bookbinder, a paper artist, or just love making things, this project is worth checking out.

What’s in the Video?

📌 A thorough walk through of the plough and its features
🔪 How to sharpen the blade for the best cuts
📏 Setting up the plough for accuracy
✂️ A cutting demo—before and after results
📖 How it compares to other cutting methods

If you’re ready to get cleaner, sharper cuts in your bookbinding projects, this video (and the building plan) will get you there.

🛠 Want to build your own? Grab the full book plough building plan here.