I finally found the trick to untwisting linen thread without fighting it

I've been bookbinding for about 3 years now and always hated when my thread comes off the spool in a knotty mess. Last week I watched a video from a bindery in Portland where the guy just runs the thread through a folded piece of beeswax twice before cutting it. I tried it on my current project and it actually flattened the twist. No more stopping every 10 minutes to untangle. Has anyone else tried waxing their thread differently and seen a big change?

3 comments

3 Comments

joelwells4d ago

That's funny, I've been binding about four years now and I actually stopped waxing my thread altogether. I found that even a thin coat of wax made the thread stiff in a way that threw off my tension on the spine. I just run mine through a clean cloth to take out the static and let it be.

the_jana4d ago

Huh, I always thought waxing was essential, but this makes me reconsider, @joelwells.

simon_coleman2d ago

Funny you mention that @joelwells, I went through the same thing about two years into binding. Wax was messing with my ability to feel the thread settle right on the spine. Switched to just a quick wipe with a dry rag and never looked back. The thread stays softer and I get way more consistent results with my tension. Might be worth a try if you're on the fence about it.