Remove Wallpaper From Sample Books

Art Deco Wallpaper Sample Book

Wallpaper Sample Books are generally heavy and cumbersome. While you can simply remove sample pages as needed by cutting them close to the binding with a utility/blade knife, you may prefer to disassemble the whole book. By taking the book apart, you will have more paper to work with in your crafts as well as increased flexibility in storing the paper.

Keeping in mind these books were bound to withstand heavy use, it’s going to take a little effort to get them apart. However, it’s not that difficult when you have the right tools on hand to do the job.

You’ll need: a heavy flat head screwdriver, pliers, wire cutters, small crowbar-like tool, utility knife, and a little muscle.

How to disassemble the Wallpaper Sample Book:

1. Using the utility knife cut the covers off where they fold back.
2. There are 2 or 3 main screws on each side. Insert the screwdriver under the cover next to a screw. Pry the remaining cover edge up. This may take some work, but sometimes they are quite easy. Use the crowbar if needed.
3. Once you get it up, go on to the next one. Do one complete side, then the other. Once the cover is completely off, you can see what method was used to bind that particular book - sometimes it’s staples, sometimes ring-shank nails, sometimes regular nails.
4. Check to see how they are fastened on the other side. Sometimes they go all the way through and then bend over, so you can’t just pull them out. Again, doing just one side at a time, use the crowbar, pliers, screwdriver - whatever it takes to loosen it up.
5. Once you have one side off, you can just pull the sheets off - there’s no need to actually remove the nails from the other side.

Additional Tips: If the Wallpaper Sample Book is bound using the real long staples, try cutting it and then pulling each side up with the pliers. Also, save the Book Covers for lap pads, cutting boards, and/or ironing pads - they work great for when you need a firm surface.

Tags: wallpaper books