Taurus Bookbindery

I have a 75 year old book «Gone with the Wind» that belonged to my beloved aunt. Its cover was falling apart and I wanted to preserve it so did a Google search and found Taurus Bookbindery. I worked with Michele who did an amazing job. I now have a new book cover that looks great and will help this book last for a long long time. So happy to preserve a part of my family. Very reasonable pricing as well. Thanks Michele and Taurus Bookbindery!

Taurus bookbindery and Teo are amazing! I cannot recommend them enough. I had a very complicated book project to do with lots of special requests. Not only the results were unbelievable but Teo worked with me through every step of creating the books. Teo is absolutely wonderful to work with. Book binding is an art to Taurus Bindery! You will love the results.

WOW. All I can say — My expectations were met and exceeded. I got a smaller book bound, just one, 6×9″ with quarter leather and the rest cloth. It was beautifully done. I also got it stamped blind. Just absolutely gorgeous.
The guy (whose name is escaping me.) was fantastic overall, especially with helping me. I am a designer so I am not totally naïve in this subject, but have never bound a book before. He told me what dimensions would be best (because I brought in precut pages). I redid them, did not trim, and it worked out great. I highly recommend this kind of professionalism and help with a subject that little people know too much about. Stoked!

I tried multiple times to get information for my photo book project, and though I did get some information on the phone, I was told I had to come in to get specifics– makes sense.
When I called at 4:45pm to confirm their address and to stop in quickly to look at samples, I was told «I already clocked out.» Their hours are listed as being open until 5:00pm.
It just felt like they didn’t want my business. So I looked for another book bindery, and found Cardoza-​James. When I called at 5;00pm, the man said that they were closed, but to come in anyway. I did, and spent an hour discussing my project, then giving them my business.
I guess Taurus’ indifference was a gift to me in the end.

I went to Taurus Bookbindery to have my artist portfolio bound, they did a beautiful custom job on a quick turn around.

Update:
Although the people here are nice, they are a complete waste of time. Go to the Aesthetic Union.
—
This is one of the most magical places I’ve ever seen in San Francisco.
Having passed the shop some odd-​hundred number of times, in the four years I’ve lived in this city, I had never actually walked inside; until of course I needed a book bound.
I think I got chills when I walked inside… truly an amazing atmosphere.
After the staff warmed up to me, they showed me masterpieces that they’ve completed for the likes of people I dare not even mention. They’ve crafted just about everything from a plain notebook to custom iPad cases. I can only say that you absolutely must go see for yourself, and perhaps if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get to see some of the pieces I did.
Big thanks to Teo, Max and Neko, you made my day!

I have a photography business and used an album, that was made oversees, to give my clients their photos in. They discontinued making my albums and I was devastated. This was the focus of my photography packages and had become part of my branding. The people at Flax recommended I try Taurus Bookbindery to see if they could make me one. I had never thought of this.
I called and Tim said they most likely could do it and to bring in my previous album. I went in and he let me know it was going to be very labor intensive and the price would almost be double what I was paying to have them made oversees. But, he could do it.
I have to say, they saved me! They made these beautiful albums for me, that I can now sell as «locally handmade in SF» which makes me feel good and proud. The work was awesome. The first batch was close to perfect. We had to iron out a few details, second batch was perfect. I order 40 at a time and it can take 2 – 4 weeks to get them, depending on how busy they are.
I think if Tim (the owner) didn’t have to talk to clients that would make him happy. He is a bookbinder, and I imagine he likes to be on the back end. The business is old school and that is ok. You might have to call them to check up on a order, as they get busy making albums. Tim was very honest about the work it would take to make them, and the cost, and that it probably wasn’t going to be his favorite project, and I am ok with that. Not every business can have shiny, bright people like Starbucks, but when you get an amazing, quality, custom made product, made in your home town, I can live without the smile. Today I did talk to Alexandra and she was shiny and bright, so that’s good too.
Also, I love that you can see their workspace and they have really cool machines and tools. They are passionate about what they do and create custom projects. I really appreciate their work and product they provide for my business.

In one line: waste of time. I will be sure to never come again.
I came to this bindery trying to put together a photographic portfolio book — nothing fancy mind you, just a lay-​flat book with screw-​post type of binding, the most common type you see left and right these days. I happened to speak with the guy who runs the shop and from the very beginning it was crystal clear that he did not care a bit and did not want anything to do with me or my project. In a very short period of time, he tried to come up with every excuse why it is absolutely not possible to do this and that — oh he does not have enough adhesive and oh he doesn’t want to buy another roll and oh he doesn’t want to spray mount and oh he didn’t want to do this or that and oh this and oh that…
The grand finale came when he said «why don’t you go and get an assistant and he will stick it together for you?»… I was ready to punch him in the face — I went all the way from East Bay to this supposedly reputable shop and this clown tells me to hire a college kid with a spray can!!!
After spending a good half an hour with this clown, I went to another place on Brennan and 8^th and in about 10 min they told me that yes they can do laminating (and showed me some sample swatches), and yes they will take care of mounting, and yes they will use dry mounting (and told me exactly what type and kind), and yes they can do custom sizes, and yes they can take care of all those things for a very reasonable price.
I only wish I never came to Taurus Bindery.

Tim James, the owner, is tremendously committed, particularly if you are. They can and will do anything you need them to do.

Taurus is that small town bookbinder that is hard to find, with the big town professionalism. The quality of their work is unsurpassed. It is especailly pleasant to work with their Customer Service Manager, Lisa H., over the phone and in person. Her expertise, organizational qualtiies, and her drive to finish the job by deadline, no matter what, is what gives her the edge over all the competitors. Add to that her quiet, good nature, sense of responsiblity, and willingneses to go out of her way to please even the most demanding client is what gives Lisa that «Couldn’t run this business without her «quality. Lisa and Tim work well as a team and between the two of them and everyone at Taurus, you will be very pleased that you took your «job ticket «to them. If you need a job well done, on time, and affordable, please stop in at Taurus Bookbindery. You won’t be disappointed.

read on to the bottom to get the fullness of my pros and cons… talk to tim or lauren who are both great, avoid lisa
taurus is the holy grail for anybody needing a custom bound book or portfolio of any sort. they’re pretty much the go-​to place for photo portfolios, book binding, custom albums etc. most of the people i know have had their portfolios made by taurus. they also work with local other companies (see my reviews for monarch and jr press) to get you the best custom portfolio/​book possible. their turn-​around is usually 2 weeks for portfolios, but is sometimes 3 – 4 weeks if you hit them at busy season (read: when art students graduate and all need portfolios made, usually end of march-​may)
before having them make my book i went in twice to do pre research on sample books, styles, leathers, cloths, options etc. tim was very helpful and kind. plus he had like 300 sample books he’d made to show me different materials, textures, bindings, cloths, leathers, pockets, hinges etc.
when i went in to actually have my book made i talked to lisa and she was very curt and unhelpful (though tim was still helpful). i went back today (2ish weeks later) to pick up my book and it’s just golden. it looks great. the downside of my experience was the utter jaw-​dropping rudeness and disregard that lisa showed me. i don’t want to tell the story on Unilocal,but lets just say i was literally speechless at the things she said to me. i left feeling like i was in her way (by looking at my portfolio), that i wasn’t worth her time, and that i wasn’t a «real client» despite having just spent $ 350 on a portfolio. (this feeling comes from a number of things that she actually said point-​blank which made it somewhat obvious that i wasn’t a valued customer)
after dealing with her i went in the other room to ask tim some questions and he was exceptionally nice to me which leads me to this final conclusion:
i give taurus 5 stars because of tim and the quality of the work that taurus produces.
i give them 1 star for keeping lisa on staff.
go in, prepare to be wowed by the amazingness that is taurus (avoid dealing with lisa if you possibly can, it’ll be a much smoother ride).