TIL you can fix a sagging spine by ironing the text block with a damp towel, my 1920s dictionary is flat again

Ruby Smith · 2026-10-15T19:30:03.751835+00:00

I picked up a water damaged Webster's at an estate sale in Buffalo for $2, the spine was curved like a banana, so I laid a thin damp towel over the block and pressed it with a warm iron on low for about 30 seconds at a time, and now it sits straight, has anyone else tried heat and moisture instead of a nipping press for this kind of warp?

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TIL you can fix a sagging spine by ironing the text block with a damp towel, my 1920s dictionary is flat again | Bookbinders - The Community Guide