The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 16, April 22, 2007, Article 13

MORE ON OPENING VIRGIN BOOKS

David F. Fanning writes: "Regarding the question from Ray Williams
in the E-Sylum, George Kolbe is right about not using a razor or
other very sharp knife. What I would add, though, is that the knife
you use should not be serrated. Use a fairly dull, plain kitchen knife
with an unserrated edge (almost every knife we own has at least small
serrations--when I finally found an unserrated one in our kitchen,
I confiscated it for my library).

"Lay the book on a table in front of you. Insert the knife between
the pages from the bottom, with the blade facing the uncut pages.
Starting at the bottom of the uncut pages, draw the knife lightly up
against the uncut pages, going just a bit at a time. You'll get the
hang of it, but don't be surprised if you goof up a page during the
learning process. You might want to practice on a folded piece of
paper first."

Allan Davisson writes: "Greg Campbell of Campbell-Logan Binding
gave me a knife designed for the sole purpose of cutting uncut pages.
It is very sharp with a rounded dull tip. The cut is clean (which
has not always been the case when I used a dull edge in the past)
and the blunt tip meant that I did not make any errant cuts."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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