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A zine collective's blog about photocopiers, glue sticks, and the scrappy little publications people staple together at midnight. How-tos, rants, and interviews from the back of the print shop.

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Saddle Stitching Without a Long-Reach Stapler

How-To · · by · 1 min read · collage, cookbooks, nineties

Saddle Stitching Without a Long-Reach Stapler

No long-reach stapler? No problem. This trick uses tools you already have in a drawer.

Start with plain 80gsm copy paper. It folds cleanly, runs through almost any machine, and costs almost nothing, which matters when you are going to ruin a few sheets learning.

When the dummy works, number the pages in pencil before you unfold it. That little map will save you from the classic mistake of printing page seven upside down.

If you are reading this at the collective, the good scissors are in the drawer marked "do not take the good scissors". Please do not take the good scissors.

A note on paper: we buy recycled 80gsm by the box and it runs through every machine we own. Heavier stock is lovely for covers, but it will jam the old copier if you try to feed it more than ten sheets at a time.

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TALK Comments 7 scrawls
  1. Hana Sato

    The bit about making the dummy first is so true. I learned that the expensive way.

    Reply
    1. Ines Duarte

      Seconded. A workshop would be brilliant.

      Reply
  2. Ben Achterberg

    Honestly this made me dig out a box of my own old zines.

    Reply
  3. Hana Sato

    The bit about making the dummy first is so true. I learned that the expensive way.

    Reply
  4. Ollie Brennan

    I have never thought about paper weight this much and now I can’t stop.

    Reply
  5. Ben Achterberg

    This is exactly the push I needed. Printing issue two this weekend.

    Reply
  6. Ollie Brennan

    Do you trade? I have a perzine about bus drivers I think you would like.

    Reply

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