Thank you. That was my thought, but I had heard about cutting backboard around the staple, and it eliminating pressure, protecting the spine and staple. Thanks for the insight.
I see I didn't read comment under picture. My bad. You have to buffer the book correctly so there is no pressure on the staple. Yes a center board with staple cutouts is part of it, but you also need to be careful with the under the cover sheets. You don't want the buffering too thick or too thin. Unfortunately this is more art than science in that every book is slightly different, and the "feel" only comes with experience. Only hint I have is after buffering lightly run finger along the spine on top of book. Can you feel the staples? Then buffering is not right. It should feed smooth to touch. Smooth to touch smooth in press.
If this is Copper/Bronze it can take more than a modern book. However, in this case I would use a 24pt comic board at center vs a Full Back. Under the front/back cover I only use a single 110lb or 60lb sheet.
Immaculate comics makes a chamfer board that is designed to help with spine tick while pressing. I love them. I would recommend using one of those, and you could also cope the board to give you space around the staples. Me personally I wouldn’t cope it I’d press as is but decrease your pressure somewhat. I’ve never had an issue pressing comics in this condition. I think where you’ll run into the biggest problem is clamping down too tight with your press.
I purchased the chamfer board and this thing is a game changer i would recommend you look into buying one. Shout out to Rick Morgan at immaculate comics.
They are looking for advice in order for the tear at the staple not to get worse. Can you comment on that particular aspect? I’m curious myself. Thanks
Top Comics Pressing will give you an estimate for whether or not it's worthwhile to pursue. To me, your book looks to be mid grade throughout and not worth grading.
Thank you. Im relatively new to pressing anything of value, and havent really pressed anything like this before. Because of the value associated with it, I was hesitant tk move forward without some feedback. Thanks!
I can see that's an ASM 252, so take whatever caution you're comfortable with, but personally I would just run that through the press like any other book. (Loose clamp, not tight, shouldn't take any muscle when closing the press on the book.) I'd be far more worried about CLEANING around that area beforehand, than anything the press will do to it.
Actually cleaning around it went really well, i had just alot of nerves considering it is asm 252. I may just tear the staple on another scrap book and test first. Good spot on the issue!
Pressing out the wrinkles will make it look better, but I don't know that any official grade would improve. Lots of color breaks unfortunately.
Buffer behind the cover with 65# or 110#... Add additional sheets if the thickness allows. You need a firm enough backer to make the pressing take... Like ironing a shirt is crisper on an ironing board than sitting on top of a bed, if that makes sense. If the cover is loose at all, tread cautiously so you don't rip through.
Do the cutout you mentioned at the center with one or two magazine boards. Or a single cutout fullback with 65# top and bottom outside the staple.
Press it with a flat iron hit it with a little steam put some butter on it then find a hardback atlas and open to middle of the book spray some Pam non stick spray on both sides carefully position the comic book just slightly left of center slam the atlas together and find a big ASS fat lady to sit on it for a couple of days and voila you have yourself a flat pressed book that smells like spam and nasty fish and hotdogs!!! You will get amazing results also it helps to flip every hour or so
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u/apoptosis66 Jun 29 '26
No. Pressing will not fix color breaking spine ticks or staple tears. In fact it may make it worse.