Comments on: Minor Book Repairs – Sprucing Up Your Old Friends http://www.worthpoint.com/article/minor-book-repairs-sprucing-up-your-old-friends Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles Wed, 22 May 2013 03:31:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: JIM http://www.worthpoint.com/article/minor-book-repairs-sprucing-up-your-old-friends/comment-page-1#comment-7120 JIM Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:35:57 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2489290#comment-7120 Petrolem based glues, such as Scotch tape and most modern price tags can easily be removed with lighter fluid and the above mentioned label peeler or an X-acto knife. Use a minimal amount, any excess glue can be removed with a paper towel moistened with lighter fluid. The excess fluid will evaporate leaving no marks. Although i usually check first with a Q-tip in a hidden area. Petrolem based glues, such as Scotch tape and most modern price tags can easily be removed with lighter fluid and the above mentioned label peeler or an X-acto knife. Use a minimal amount, any excess glue can be removed with a paper towel moistened with lighter fluid. The excess fluid will evaporate leaving no marks. Although i usually check first with a Q-tip in a hidden area.

]]> By: Jack http://www.worthpoint.com/article/minor-book-repairs-sprucing-up-your-old-friends/comment-page-1#comment-7104 Jack Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:48:36 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2489290#comment-7104 One more tip about repairing loose hinges, after I apply PVC glue with a knitting needle behind the endpaper, I shrink wrap the book. I use packaging " Shrink wrap" which retails for about $12 at Walmart. A spool of this stretchy plastic is wound around the book in both directions, This brings even pressure all over and insures the book will heal in the exact conformation that will be best for it. A book press is a professional device in the $300 range which I could not afford. Poor people have Poor ways- I can't throw money at my problems so I use ingenuity. A good does of this is exactly what COngress could use right now. One more tip about repairing loose hinges, after I apply PVC glue with a knitting needle behind the endpaper, I shrink wrap the book. I use packaging ” Shrink wrap” which retails for about $12 at Walmart. A spool of this stretchy plastic is wound around the book in both directions, This brings even pressure all over and insures the book will heal in the exact conformation that will be best for it. A book press is a professional device in the $300 range which I could not afford. Poor people have Poor ways- I can’t throw money at my problems so I use ingenuity. A good does of this is exactly what COngress could use right now.

]]> By: Jack http://www.worthpoint.com/article/minor-book-repairs-sprucing-up-your-old-friends/comment-page-1#comment-7103 Jack Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:39:16 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2489290#comment-7103 I would also add one tip for leather books that are being cleaned. If you husband has a car buffer, like the attachment that goes on a drill with the buffer pad that is a fluffy type round cloth and sponge- borrow it and use it to work the leather moisturizer into the leather. If you do this by hand it can take a long time and your arms will be aching. Saddle soap is good. With this auto buffer it is quick and you get a glossy shiny surface for the book and it is really clean. It works fantastic on leather purses too. I would also add one tip for leather books that are being cleaned. If you husband has a car buffer, like the attachment that goes on a drill with the buffer pad that is a fluffy type round cloth and sponge- borrow it and use it to work the leather moisturizer into the leather. If you do this by hand it can take a long time and your arms will be aching. Saddle soap is good. With this auto buffer it is quick and you get a glossy shiny surface for the book and it is really clean. It works fantastic on leather purses too.

]]> By: Jack http://www.worthpoint.com/article/minor-book-repairs-sprucing-up-your-old-friends/comment-page-1#comment-7102 Jack Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:31:32 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2489290#comment-7102 CRAYON can be removed. I have found the secret. Take the book into a walk-in freezer such as they have in restaurants like fast food chains have, or go outside in the extreme col winter weather. The cold freezes the crayon pigments and gently rub it off with a very fine sand paper. Rub only the crayon marks, I have a small sanding block which I got from as art supply store. Also One factoid about books: Public librarians have ruined more books than all children combined who scribbled with crayons. Librarians for a hundred years have taken all their brand new books; put expensive mylar jackets on them which was wonderful;then damaged them with scotch tape and sometimes glue to make the jacket stay on the book. A properly fitted jacket does not need any adhesives at all. It needs to slide, and the tape and glue is digested by microbial forms of consciousness who then expel their wasts and the tape is a permanent stain on the book or endpaper. Millions of books- brand new were ruined by librarians or their volunteer helpers. It is ghastly how many of these books now are rare collectible first editions. The tax payers could recoup some of ther public library investments if librarians would stop ruining their new books. CRAYON can be removed. I have found the secret. Take the book into a walk-in freezer such as they have in restaurants like fast food chains have, or go outside in the extreme col winter weather. The cold freezes the crayon pigments and gently rub it off with a very fine sand paper. Rub only the crayon marks, I have a small sanding block which I got from as art supply store.

Also One factoid about books: Public librarians have ruined more books than all children combined who scribbled with crayons. Librarians for a hundred years have taken all their brand new books; put expensive mylar jackets on them which was wonderful;then damaged them with scotch tape and sometimes glue to make the jacket stay on the book. A properly fitted jacket does not need any adhesives at all. It needs to slide, and the tape and glue is digested by microbial forms of consciousness who then expel their wasts and the tape is a permanent stain on the book or endpaper.
Millions of books- brand new were ruined by librarians or their volunteer helpers. It is ghastly how many of these books now are rare collectible first editions. The tax payers could recoup some of ther public library investments
if librarians would stop ruining their new books.

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