Kindle Date(s): April 2, 2008. Album by Richard Hesel. 1 - 55 of 55 Total. 4787 Visits.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 1 Photo 1 The Leonardo address book with pages attached.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 2 Photo 2 To remove the bound-in address pages use a very sharp razor knife and using a straight edge as a guide, cut along the folded seam where the outer cover paper is glued to the leather cover.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 3 Photo 3 The leather cover with the pages removed.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 4 Photo 4 Another view of the leather cover with the pages removed.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 5 Photo 5 Next trim back the excess paper from the address book lining the insides of the leather cover so that none protrudes beyond the plane where both halves of the leather cover fold over the center.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 6 Photo 6 The Kindle loosely placed in the leather book cover.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 7 Photo 7 Another view of the Kindle loosely in place.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 8 Photo 8 Measure the height and width of the cream/white paper liner left from the address book on both inside halves of the leather cover. The measurements should work out to about 8 3/8 “ x 5 ½”.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 9 Photo 9 Take a large enough piece of the Finland birch plywood and cut two pieces with a sharp razor knife to the 8 3/8” x 5 ½ “ measurements above. These pieces will later be covered with marbled paper and glued to the inside of both sides of the leather cover, hiding the old white/cream liners and proving a base for mounting the Kindle Velcro attachments and the gold leaf simulated pages ends.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 10 Photo 10 The two pieces of Finland birch plywood cut to size to line the insides of the cover.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 11 Photo 11 Take your marbled paper or whatever other material you are using to create the decorative lining for the cover. Using a sharp razor knife, cut a strip approximately 2 ½” x 10 3/8 “ This piece will be used to create a liner bridge between the two sides of the cover interior that continues the decorative lining across the inside of the folding part of the cover.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 12 Photo 12 See photos 12-14. The piece just cut laid over the inside of the cover. Next fold back and glue (with matte glue) both edges to make this liner bridge exactly 8 3/8” long, the same as the height of the Finland birch cut in as seen in photo 8 above.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 13 Photo 13
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 14 Photo 14
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 15 Photo 15 Take the this completed liner bridge, lay it dead center in the middle of the cover, and lightly trace a line where its edges cover the exiting cream/white liner. Next, using a small brush, spread glue over the edges of the cream/white liner out to the pencil traces you just made. Do not let glue get into the exposed leather areas between the two cover sides. Use a dampened Q-tip or small paper towel to remove excess glue before it dries. Hold the piece in place with small paper weights until the glue dries (about 20 minutes)
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 16 Photo 16 Photos 16 and 17. Take a large sheet of the marbled paper and turn it upside down on your work surface (make sure the surface is clean and free of glue residue). The take the two pieces of Finland birch plywood you cut before and lay them over the marbled paper. Using a straight edge trace a line around each piece about 3/8 “ from the edges. Then cut these pieces out of the marbled paper using a sharp razor knife.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 17 Photo 17
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 18 Photo 18 Photos 18-20. Brush matte glue over the back of each Finland birch piece and carefully lay each one over the marbleized paper pieces. Place paper weights on the back of the plywood until the glue dries. The pieces will warp a bit from the glue moisture but will flatten out when dry. Let these pieces sit until the glue is completely flat.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 19 Photo 19
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 20 Photo 20
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 21 Photo 21 With each Finland birch piece lying with the marbleized paper side face, use a straight edge to cut away at a 45 degree angle the excess marbleized paper on each corner.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 22 Photo 22 Photos 21-22. Gently but crisply fold back the overlapping marbleized paper to the back of the sheet, then glue these edges to the back of the sheet.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x680 23 Photo 23 Use the ZipDry paper glue to glue the folded pieces of the marbleized paper to the back of the Finland birch. The glue dries quickly, but you'll need to pay attention, using finger pressure to make sure each folded edge stays flat while it dries.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 24 photo 24 Squeeze the ZipDry under the edge of the folded up paper. Use a moderate amount of glue.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 25 Photo 27 Cut three pieces of the hook side of the Velcro strip for the locations shown in this photo 26. Two pieces should be about ¾” x ¾ and the third about3/8” x ½” (this piece is place on the narrow exposed edge on the back of the Kindle over the area on the side with the USB connector. The other two pieces are placed on the outer side of the bottom of the Kindle, at each end of the battery over, as shown in the photo 26.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 26 Photo 28 This photo shows the position of the hook Velcro on the back of the Kindle. Spread a thin layer Turbo PL glue on the back of each Velcro piece and glue it in place. Turn the Kindle right side up with the Velcro facing down and place a book or other weight on it until the glue dries, about 15 minutes.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 27 Photo 29 Now cut three similar-sized pieces from the loop side of the Velcro strip. Press these firmly in place on the Velcro pieces you’ve glued to the back of the Kindle
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 28 Photo 30 Now take the Kindle and test fit it on the right side of the Leonardo cover. I should be placed with the left side of the Kindle at the left edge of the cover where it folds and with equal distance from the top and bottom edge of the cover. Note this position.
Turn the Kindle over and spread a thin coat of Turbo PL glue on the back of the Velcro pieces. Then place the Kindle in place on the inside of the Leonardo cover just as you positioned it in the test fit described above. Make sure it is aligned properly. Place a book or other heavy object on the top of the Kindle until the glue dries, about 15 minutes
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 29 Photo 31 The Kindle is held firmly in place by the Velcro.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 30 Photo 32 As a test, pull the Kindle from the Leonardo cover by separating the Velcro. It should be held firmly in place but come part quite easily.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 31 Photo 33 At this stage, you can quit and use the Kindle in the Leonardo cover without the simulated gold lead page edges (probably the most difficult part of this project). This photo and Photos 33 and 34 show what the cover would look like if you stopped now
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 32 Photo 34 If you want to try the simulated gold lead page edges, read on.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 33 Photo 35 Take the 1/16 x ¾ wood strip and using a fine tooth saw (hobby shops have them) scrape one side to make grooves in the wood, as shown in photos 35 and 36. This will roughly simulate page edges.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 34 Photo 36
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 35 Photo 37 What the scraping effect looks like when painted with gold leaf.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 36 Photo 38 Next, using white glue, glue the 1/8 x/18 wood strip to one of the bottom edges of the 1/16 x ¾ wood strip (this creates a wide base for gluing this assembly to the cover. Align the pieces carefully so they present a flat, even surface. Photos 36 and 37 show the finished strip cut for mounting on the Kindle.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 37 Photo 39
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 38 Photo 40 The strips have to be cut to the right length to create a u-shaped piece that will fit around the left side of the cover about 1/16" to 3/32" from the edge. The Joints in each corner should be mitered to give a finished effect.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 39 Photo 41 To fit the pieces together, lay them flat in a straight line with the outside faces up, the long piece in the middle and the two short pieces on either side. Tape the joint. together on the top surface with masking tape, then flip the taped assembly over. Place several drops of white glue in the two mitered joint, then turn the assembly on its side and fold it into a u-shape. Use a square to make each corner a perfect 90 degree angle, and use the inside of the square and some weight to hold the assembly square while the glue dries, about 45 - 60 minutes.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 40 Photo 42 Paint the complete u-shaped assembly with gold leaf on both sides, and be sure to leave no wood exposed. Let the paint dry for at least 2 hours.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 41 Photo 43 Test fit the u-shaped page-end assembly to the left side of the cover, opposite where the Kindle is mounted. You want to be sure the space from the cover edges at the top and bottom and left side are all even, no more than about 1/16" to 3/32".
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 42 Photo 44 Remove the Kindle and tape wax paper over the Kindle side of the cover. This protects the marbleized paper from being marred by the gold lead while the page-end assembly is being glued to the left-side cover.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 43 Photo 45 Trim the wax paper to fit and fold it over to the front cover, using masking tape to hold it in place.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 44 Photo 46 Place a very thin amount of the Turbo PL glue all along the bottom of the page end assembly. then position it in pace on the left cover, following the placement instructions in step/photo 43 above. The fold right. Kindle side cover back over the page-end assembly. As you fold the cover over, it will want to push the page end assembly out of place, so you'll have to take care to position and reposition it until it's exactly in place with the cover folded over.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 45 Photo 47 When you're satisfied that the page-end assembly is properly positioned with the cover folded over, place a few heavy weights on the back of the cover. The flattens the curvature of the cover and ensures that the page end assembly is properly glued. Leave the weights on for about 30 minutes until the glue dries.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 46 Photo 48 The finished cover, with the page-end assembly on the left side, the Kindle on the right.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 47 Photo 49 The page end assembly gives the illusion of a real book with gold-leaf page ends, which makes a nice surprise and contrast when the apparent antique book is opened to reveal the Kindle.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 48 Photo 50 The three Leonardo Kindle covers I've made, side by side. Two will be auctioned on E-Bay soon, since I need only one:)
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 49 Photo 51 The latest version (the one I'm keeping), built for these instructions.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 50 Photo 52 The Velcro does a marvelous job of holding the Kindle in place, but it's easy to remove the Kindle, far easier than with the stock case or my other two designs.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 51 Photo 53 The first design, soon to be auctioned on E-Bay. The Kindle slide in from the right on a felt base.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 52 Photo 55 This design also holds the Kindle tightly in place.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 53 Photo 56 A close-up view of the simulate page ends. Up close, it's obvious the pages are not real, but from a few feet away, the effect is quite good.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 54 Photo 57 My second design. This has the Kindle on the left, with the mount lined in the marbleized paper. The Kindle slides in from the left into a channel that holds it from the top edges.
enlarge 0KB, 1024x678 55 Photo 58 Another view of version 2.