On working with...
bone folders
Not much to say about those? Wrong.
While you usually use them all the same way (always pulling, never pushing along an edge, to avoid tears in the paper or ugly bumps in fabric), there are different types and sizes and materials of bone folders that have different properties. What type (or types) you use mostly depends on personal preferences, but there are a few things to say about them.
First of all, the bone folder, made of bone.
Those are usually nice and sturdy, good to apply pressure if you need to and hard to destroy (I know of only one person who managed that by dropping it). They can be used for a light polishing effect on edge too. Each of them is unique and you’ll find it hard to work with another bone folder than yours after some time. Most bookbinders I know still have their very first bone folder in use (even after 40 years of bookbinding!).
They are easy to keep clean and even shape, if you find need for that. In case your bone folder has too thick edges or too thin ones or you need more of a tip (or less) you can just sand them to the shape you like with a fine sanding paper.
Even small kinks can be repaired that way, just sand down until the edge is smooth and straight again.
Just, please do all sanding wearing a medical mask (luckily we all have those at home now) because you don’t really need animal bone dust in your lungs.
Now a downside of bone as that very sturdy and smooth material?
It can leave glossy, somewhat polished looking, streaks or spots on paper and fabric. That’s because it’s just what happens there. Those bone folders polish the surface with their own smooth and sturdy surface. Usually that happens when there is bit too much pressure applied. In some areas that doesn’t stand out at all. In folds of the joints, for example, or at the flat sides of the edges. If you want to avoid even the chance of those streaks you use another type of bone folder.
Tip at the side, if it feels like the bone folder doesn't move smoothly over the surface, you can help it along by greasing it slightly by rubbing it at your nose (if you don't wear make up or the base of your hairline.
The bone folder made of Teflon.
They come in different sizes and shapes and each type is exactly the same as another of that type and easy to exchange. The material is easy to keep clean too.
The edges are rather round, as is the tip. Applying pressure is harder with them because the material is slightly flexible, BUT they don’t leave glossy streaks on paper or fabric! A downside in my opinion is the electrostatic charge that can make working with leather, thin papers or small pieces of paper difficult.
Teflon bone folders can also be shaped by sanding with a fine sanding paper and again, you don’t want any Teflon in your lungs either.
The bone folder made of Teflon. They come in different sizes and shapes, but each type is exactly the same as any other of the same type and easy to exchange or replace. The material is easy to keep clean too. The edges are often rather round, as is the tip. Applying pressure is harder with them because the material is slightly flexible, BUT they don’t leave glossy streaks on paper or fabric! There might be some electrostatic charge though, which mostly isn’t any trouble (as long as you aren’t working on charred paper fragments or very thin paper). They can also be shaped by sanding with a fine sanding paper and again, you don’t want any Teflon in your lungs either.
(not my picture!) Bone folders made of stone (mostly agate, I think). I don’t have of those, but I worked with agate for gilding and polishing edges. So that perhaps counts for something. As they are made of stone I imagine them easy to apply pressure with and to be wonderfully smooth. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they left glossy streaks on paper and fabric either.I’m pretty sure small kinks can be repaired, but it will be a lot more work than bone or Teflon especially to get them completely smooth again. Personally I would not get one, simply because I’m prone to drop my everyday tools and agate is too brittle to survive many falls. (Please, if you use one I’d be happy to hear about your experiences!)
(not my picture!)
There are also bone folders made wood.
Again I can’t tell you anything about those though. I have no bone folder made of wood or bamboo. Naturally I’d expect the material to be easy to sand into shape. It also can be polished smooth, but whether or not they would leave glossy streaks I don’t know.
Same goes for the maintenance. It’s wood, so I’d be a bit more reluctant to just clean them under hot water if needed.
I have seen some of bone folders having nice engravings. As much as I like the look of those. That would be a no go for me. I use all the sides of my bone folder, edges, tip, rounded end, flat sides. I’d be too worried the edges of the engraving might tear my paper or roughen up my leather.
(Again, I’d be happy to hear about your experiences!).
Lastly there are bone folders made of metal.
I only rarely use one for leather tooling to press in patterns before heat tooling them or get sharp lines with raised bands on the spine. They need cautious handling though because you can just as easily tear the surface. The metal bone folder can be heated too, but there are other tools easier to use for that.
Among the bone, wood and agate folders I’ve seen some having nice engravings. As much as I like the look of those. That would be a no go for me. I use all the sides of my bone folder, edges, tip, rounded end, flat sides. I’d be too worried the edges of the engraving might tear my paper or roughen up my leather.
So, that’s all I can think about for now.
