For the head, the gage is set forward and the trimmed tail is placed against the back and side gage. The board filler is placed on top in the same manner as above described and the operation continued. On thin books the board filler may be dispensed with by reversing the backs of the books alternately, so as to distribute the thickness of the back on both sides of the pile.
If there are two splits in the back gage, i.e., if it is a three-part back gage, set the center for trimming the fore-edge, the left for trimming the tail, and the right end for the head. This, however, should be done only when the quantity to be trimmed justifies it. When the back gage is set, tighten the thumbscrew with the hand. To guard against the marking of the book by the pressure of the clamp, cut a piece of binders' board somewhat larger than the width of the clamp face and glue it on the clamp.
Waste leaves should be placed on the top and bottom of enameled or glazed stock to keep it clean.
To trim quarter-bound cut-flush tablets or pads which are bound two or more on a sheet, as in the case of receipts, trim the fore-edges, cut all the tails alike, then the heads. The knife should cut against the back. In making up books to be bound two or more on, one-fourth of an inch trim must be provided for, to clear the bevel caused by the knife. This is provided for if books are made up with one-eighth of an inch trim for the head and tail. Thick books can be bound two or more on until the stitching is completed. Then cut apart and proceed with the rest of the binding in the regular way.
Blank books are trimmed so that the standard sizes are reduced one-fourth of an inch for the length and three-sixteenths of an inch for the width. The paper for a medium book is 18 × 23 inches; when folded, 11½ × 18 inches. If such standard sizes are adopted the work of forwarding is greatly facilitated, as cases and boards can be made in advance without fear of the books being trimmed too large.
In trimming spring-back account-books, sewed straight or on guards, the fore-ends are trimmed, then forwarded until the books are in straps. Sharp knives are indispensable in trimming books which are concave on the fore-edge. Deep rounds should be filled in with waste paper to prevent the top sections and the back from breaking. Board fillers are always laid on top and the book placed so that the knife will cut against the back.
Brochures with extended cover should have the stock first cut to size of cover before printing, and sufficient extra stock allowed for an all-round trim of the inset after, especially at the fore-edge where after folding in sections the inner sheets are apt to bulge forward. The printer should know how much will be taken off in the after trim to enable him to allow uniform widths of margin. After a job is bound, the cutting machine cannot remedy any defect of edges.
Paper Cuttings and Waste
Cuttings and waste may be disposed of by throwing them into a large bag attached to or placed near the machine. When filled, this can be taken away and another substituted. Throwing waste on the floor should not be tolerated. It is untidy, costs time and labor to gather up, and is dangerous.