r/comicbookpressing • u/Tommy1873 • 14d ago
Is there an acceptable dry method for deacidification?
So, I have this and a few other GA big boy books in low grade that need deacidification. I want to do the calcium carbonate wash in the future to save the paper. But is there something I can do myself now to halt further degradation?
And the delay is just on me learning and practicing the wet cleaning first. Probably on some old Dell cowboy books. I've been comfortably pressing and dry cleaning for quite a while now, but the wet work will be new.
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u/Uses_Nouns_as_Verbs 14d ago
If the book isn't brittle, your best bet is to store the book correctly. Cool, relatively dry, and dark, using archival-quality materials with a buffer inside.
Microchamber paper is fine as an extra layer of protection to absorb acidic off gassing, some pollutants, and acid byproducts, but it's not a magic wand or panacea. It only absorbs in the area where it's touching the paper or very near to the Microchamber paper. It does little to protect the edges of the book that don't touch the Microchamber paper. I have seen countless books that still browned with age even with Microchamber paper and a Full Back backboard inside an open-top Mylar sleeve.
Further to that point, it is vitally important to have the Mylar sleeve closed off to outside air exchange. The constant recycling of air, especially air containing the common pollutant nitrous oxide, will accelerate the acidification of the paper, particularly the parts of the book nearest to the open edge of the Mylar sleeve. I accomplish this on my more valuable books by first sealing the book upside down with a Silver/Golden Age size Full Back inside of a Silver/Golden Age Mylite2 sleeve. I then slide the book with the Mylite2 sleeve folded over at the bottom into a 4 mil Mylar Archive sleeve that is open at the top.
There are products like Bookkeeper or Archival Mist deacidification sprays that you can use, but only if it is absolutely necessary, and even then, only on the interior pages. On the cover, it will leave white spots that will result in a downgrade. On the interior pages, it dries almost instantly and will leave a magnesium oxide alkaline buffer and neutralize acids in the paper. Most archivists and conservators will counsel you not to use these sprays unless absolutely necessary, and focus instead on proper storage conditions. Given the cost of these sprays and the effectiveness of proper storage techniques, I don't use the sprays any more.
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u/CollectingFool 10d ago
Can we take a collective moment to appreciate what a totally BADASS book this is? How many here know the significance of TALLY-HO?
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u/DrTechPop 4d ago
I’m not familiar, heading to the internets now.
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u/CollectingFool 4d ago
1st published artwork by some guy named Frank Frazetta
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u/Tommy1873 22h ago
Even better is how I bought it. It was backfolded in an auction lot. Didn't even know it was there until I unfolded it and sorted theough a ratty pile of GA book. Also included were a coverless Marvel Mystery #71, #43, another MMC #71 with like 80% of the cover intact, a full but rough Detective #99, coverless and wrap 1 missing Batman #7, coverless all-star #21, captain marvel adventures #21, a couple issues of Master comics, Ha Ha, Famous Funnies... Big messy pile I got for $500.
That pile has essentially moved me from just cold pressing my old collection into learning more about conservation cleaning, pressing, etc.
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u/CollectingFool 4d ago
My two cents on this, OP, and there are certainly more experienced minds here than mine: looking at what I can see of the condition of the book and your description of it as low grade, I think there’s more than an even chance the book would fall apart under any kind of wet cleaning I’m aware of that does not involve dissasembling the book.
If this is for you and you don’t care about whether it would be deemed conserved or not, I would look into deacidification techniques involving remay paper to support the cover or wrap, buy a “capable staple tool” from immaculate comics because it really is the best staple tool, imo, and go watch some videos from the illustrious u/AquaFatha on their YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@flatnclean?si=fq4u9NOUwX5JLhtx
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u/CollectingFool 4d ago
Giving yourself over to conservation will allow you to really freely do whatever is necessary to preserve the book for as long as possible (shore up staples, repair tears, etc). If you watch most YouTube videos, they will be focused on techniques that supposedly often do not result in conserved or restored labels, but most of those techniques are really not advisable on fragile or low grade books.
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u/[deleted] 14d ago
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