Bone Folder
A classic bone folder is made of real bone, not plastic or Teflon, and resembles a fat, blunt-edged tongue depressor, rounded at one end and pointed at the other. With it, I can turn a digital print, piece of cardstock or watercolor paper into a professional-looking note or greeting card.
Pulling the pointed end alongside a straight edge and across the paper produces a subtle score that facilitates a perfect fold. Next, I fold the card very gently by hand along the score, and then stroke one of the short, straight sides of the bone folder along the score to flatten the rounded fold to a sharp crease.
When sending a letter that I want to look good, I make two quick strokes of the folder along preliminary hand folds to create folded edges that are sharp and square. Bone folders also can be used to burnish paper as it is glued to cardstock, album or scrapbook pages. They produce accurate and sharp folds and creases on origami papers as well as facilitate sculpting, architectural modeling or bookbinding with paper.
I recommend rubbing your bone folder with olive oil from time to time to avoid flaking or brittleness. Folders made of real bone are best, unless you wish to use a Teflon folder to avoid the slight luster sometimes created by the friction of a real bone folder.
[I relied on one of these while producing a large batch of homemade invitations and can attest to its utility. Here’s a look at a bone folder in use. -- ES]
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Favorite (15)
Laral
I'm glad to see someone else prefers a real bone folder. I had one I bought years ago from a book bindery supplier that is buried in some moving box so I went to the local Hobby Lobby to buy a new one. When I asked if they had a bone folder the guy on the floor looked at me kinda squeamishly but didn't know what it was. When I described it to him he said he thought they had them in plastic and showed me to them. I looked at one of them and said something like "Cool. It's real bone." He gave me and the folder a horrified and incriminating look and walked away abruptly and rather rudely like I must be some sort of Satan worshiper or something. Thanks for bringing attention to this item. I haven't tried the plastic version. I'm sure it's just fine but I like old traditional things. Traditional bookbinders have been using them for probably centuries to crease folios and quartos for signatures.
Zwack
I have two bone folders of different lengths purchased from an art supply store. I have to say that they have multiple uses outside of paper (they're used in leatherwork too) anywhere you need a well defined crease.
Z.
bobo12
"I recommend rubbing your bone folder with olive oil from time to time to avoid flaking or brittleness"
Truer words were never spoke...or...that's what she said!
Anonymous
I never realized they were actual bone.
Painted Bunting Books
As a book binder, I have used both bone and teflon folders but I have recently been using and really enjoying ebony folders made by Randy Arnold.
http://randyarnold.wordpress.com/
http://randyarnold.wordpress.com/page/2/
They are made in lots of different sizes and shapes or can be custom ordered.
coleen
best to soak the bone folder in mineral oil rather than olive oil. the olive oil may tend to go rancid. over time.
Jerome
I've always used a pair of scissors (very gently) to create the score, then made the fold with the edge of a ruler. It's always worked pretty well, but now I know this thing exists I'll give it a try!
leslie
I have a bunch of bone folders but tend to acquire more. On a recent trip to a craft store i picked up the Martha Stewart "bone folder" I'm very disappointed to see that it's made of melamine. I love the shape but the melamine doesn't work as well and leaves more of a sheen on the paper.