How To Put Sticky Back Plastic On A Book

How to Cover a Book with Sticky Back Plastic

Sticky back plastic, also known as contact paper or self-adhesive film, is a clear or colored plastic sheet that has a sticky side. It can be used to cover books, notebooks, folders, and other items to protect them from wear and tear, water damage, or stains. Covering a book with sticky back plastic is easy and inexpensive, and it can make your book look more neat and professional. Here are three easy ways to cover a book with sticky back plastic.

Method 1: Using a Roll of Sticky Back Plastic

Measure and cut a piece of sticky back plastic that is slightly larger than your book. Place your book on a flat surface and open it. Unroll the sticky back plastic and place it over your book, leaving about 2 inches (5 cm) of extra plastic on each side. Cut the plastic along the edge of the roll with scissors.

Peel off the backing paper from one corner of the plastic. Carefully peel off the paper that covers the sticky side of the plastic, starting from one corner. You can use a ruler or a credit card to help you peel off the paper smoothly and evenly.

Fold the plastic around your book, then tuck in the front flap. Fold the plastic around your book so 2 equally-sized flaps are hanging off the top, bottom, and right side. Fold the front plastic flap under the front cover, pull tight, and tape it in place with a piece of Scotch tape[^1^].

Put the cover back on, tuck in the remaining flaps, and tape them. Fold the plastic back over the back cover of your book. Then, fold in the top and bottom plastic flaps hanging off the back cover and secure them with tape[^1^]. Trim any excess plastic with scissors if needed.

Method 2: Using Pre-Cut Sheets of Sticky Back Plastic

Buy pre-cut sheets of sticky back plastic that fit your book size. You can find pre-cut sheets of sticky back plastic in various sizes and colors at stationery stores or online. Choose a size that is slightly larger than your book so you can fold over the edges.

Peel off the backing paper from one sheet of plastic. Carefully peel off the paper that covers the sticky side of one sheet of plastic. You can use a ruler or a credit card to help you peel off the paper smoothly and evenly.

Place the sheet of plastic over the front cover of your book. Align the sheet of plastic with the edge of your book's spine and press it down firmly. Smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles with your fingers or a credit card.

Fold over the edges of the plastic and tape them to the inside of the cover. Fold over the excess plastic on each side of the cover and tape it to the inside with Scotch tape[^1^]. Trim any excess plastic with scissors if needed.

Repeat steps 2-4 for the back cover of your book. Use another sheet of plastic to cover the back cover of your book in the same way as you did for the front cover.

Method 3: Using a Book Covering Machine

Find a book covering machine at your local library or school. A book covering machine is a device that automatically covers books with sticky back plastic. It has a roll of plastic film, a heating element, and a cutting blade. You can use it to cover books quickly and easily without any scissors or tape.

Turn on the machine and adjust the settings according to your book size. Turn on the power switch and wait for the machine to warm up. Then, adjust the settings on the control panel according to your book size and thickness. You can also choose how much extra plastic you want on each side of your book.

Place your book on the machine's platform and press start. Place your book on the platform with its spine facing down and its front cover facing up. Make sure it is aligned with the guide marks on the platform. Then, press start button to aa16f39245