SeattlePioneer 144 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Since damaged Scout Handbook bindings appear to be a common problem and issue, Scout Troops should probably develop a method to deal with it. That suggests a preemptive reinforcement of the binding to avoid the problem or methods to make repairs once they become apparent. Does anyone do that kind of thing? It occurs to me that there might be useful ways to customize the Scout Handbook to make it more useful and meaningful to boys. A custom Troop book plate with the name of the Scout on it might be one example. Installing pockets for Merit Badge blue cards a boy is working on might be another. What other ways could troops help maintain and usefully customize Scout Handbooks? Link to post Share on other sites
ScoutNut 147 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I think a Troop has better things to do. Maintaining, and/or customizing, a handbook is up to it's owner. Link to post Share on other sites
Twocubdad 665 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I don't know how you would do that. The issue is the edge gluing comes loose and the pages fall out. Don't know how you would fix that unless you drill holes and turn the whole thing into a notebook. The nylon covers for the books really seem to help, but you shouldn't have to buy a $7 cover to keep a $10 or $15 dollar book from falling apart. Link to post Share on other sites
SeattlePioneer 144 Posted August 11, 2012 Author Share Posted August 11, 2012 Hello Two Cub Dad, Link to post Share on other sites
skeptic 1002 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 There's the answer for everyone. National can reinstate the Bookbinding MB. Then you can purchase the pamphlet at the same time you buy the HB and as soon as the book starts to have issues, or immediately if you choose, "fix" the book and get the MB. The bonus would be that maybe a kid or two might even read the book while working on re-gluing. Link to post Share on other sites
BSA24 10 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Just buy the spiral bound edition and a book cover both sold at scoutstuff.org. Problem solved. Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle732 27 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 OR Supply could get enough of the defective books returned to make it worth their while to produce a quality item. I'm sending at least a dozen back. I have handbooks from the 20's and 30's that are in better shape than a 6 month old book of today! Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle92 110 Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 BSA, I was informed that it is cheaper, and sturdier, to take the current BSHB, got to Staples, and get them to spiral bind it. Link to post Share on other sites
AZMike 173 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 "I was informed that it is cheaper, and sturdier, to take the current BSHB, got to Staples, and get them to spiral bind it. " Huh. Would that be sturdier than the current spiral bound edition, which seems even flimsier than the regular bound one? If so, I may try it with a test copy. Link to post Share on other sites
BSA24 10 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Eagle: I didn't know they could do that. Very cool. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Cito 12 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I like the bookbinding mb idea. No idea about the current ones but I know in the 80's I ended up needing one for signatures and one for daily use. Not sure what book can survive 5 years of camping. My issue is all the silly binders that are more common now. What scoutmaster carries a three ring binder? Give me a book small enough to go in a pack. Binders invite pages falling out and it never going anywhere. Link to post Share on other sites
shortridge 184 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Duct tape along the spine. The different colors and designs can also aid in identification at a glance. Link to post Share on other sites
Tampa Turtle 1011 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 My son has a 1943 handbook that the cover and pages are JUST now falling out of. This is ridiculous. I suspect if National has an e-book version it would come with a "Fatal Error" message. Link to post Share on other sites
Eagledad 2783 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 >>I was informed that it is cheaper, and sturdier, to take the current BSHB, got to Staples, and get them to spiral bind it. Link to post Share on other sites
blw2 433 Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 I for one like the book binding lesson idea. Library repair supplies are available, but a little expensive for an individual to buy for just one book. Might be better to buy in bulk for the group/troop to save in the long run. I have never liked spiral bound books of any kind.... The pages rip out and then don't fit back well, or the binding gets bent, the pages hang up and don't turn smoothly..... Just one opinion, but I dont think that they are a good solution at all, except maybe for books that have subscription updates where the pages have to be replaced frequently, and then a multi-ring binder (more than three) can work. But that doesn't apply here, eh?.... I don't like paper backed either, so give me a hard backed book option any day! Link to post Share on other sites
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