finding the right pressure for pressing a comic book.

[@johnpopeko]

I like the twisting when adding the pressure. I believe we talked about this in our last interview. I have been doing this for a long while now and it just takes all the mystery out of how much pressure is enough and no more overkill. I really like how it works on squarebound books the most. Great video my friend, it saves me from making one...lol

[@ImmaculateComics]

Absolutely your idea John! You are a master of the craft!

[@johnpopeko]

@ImmaculateComics have you tried this technic on a squarebound book yet? What did you think of the results of this pressing technic instead of the older ways of somewhat guessing the pressure for each age of book?

[@ImmaculateComics]

@@johnpopeko I typically measure the pressure with a load cell or a force sensitive resistor and its always been about the same number of turns from the top in my particular press so it's hard to say in my case. I'll definitely trying a sqb book vs using my sqb protector using your method and see how it goes!

[@oleskooldieseldude206]

Rick,Are you still figuring out the pressure sensor or is it on the shelf for now. Great idea.

[@comicbookchris3509]

I've pressed many books by feel but I like your method as it's logical and precise!!

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thanks Chris I appreciate that!

[@KollectingKaos]

Something really important that you pointed out that you didn't want to over clean the comic. I don't think I can count the number of times I have seen people moan about their comic came back from CGC as "cleaned cover restored label" I would bet that they only worried about the outside cover and never gave a thought to the inside of the comic. New to cleaning people need to understand that if the outside of the book is bright white and the inside is dingy it will always be considered restored! If you clean the outside you absolutely must also clean the inside! Don't have a piece of plexiglass to cold press a comic, place it between some magazine sized back boards and inside a file folder and put it between a couple of large sized books for a few days. or go get some cheap picture frames with glass and pop out the glass to use. (might want to tape the edges for safety)

[@ImmaculateComics]

Wise words Jim! also you can definitely just use an old encyclopedia to cold press books. If you like, I'll send you a free acrylic cold press board. Just email me at [e-mail] with your shipping address! -Rick

[@duacot6633]

Thanks again! I greatly appreciate all you do for the home collector.

[@ImmaculateComics]

you are most welcome kind sir!

[@shaylurie6336]

I bought the same press this winter, and I've been getting really good results out of it, with aluminum plates

[@ImmaculateComics]

Good to hear!

[@holyharlot5222]

One thing I would add for someone with access only to an uneven pressure press, is to always keep the spine opposite the tighter side. I imagine you all know that, but for completion's sake I'm adding it.

[@ImmaculateComics]

That is a great tip, that k you for sharing your knowledge!

[@tensixtythreecomics]

Good video. I’m about to start pressing and this was my question!

[@ImmaculateComics]

I'm glad you found it useful !

[@malus911]

That took awhile to learn (how much pressure). Now, I can just look at the book and know what has to be done to make it work. Learning curve. Also, Marvel digital stamps need to be pressed very lightly with extra layers to not imprint on other pages.. Good vid.

[@ImmaculateComics]

That's great info for Modern books Certainly. I press modern books at only 130°F

[@BUBSWORLD181]

My Seal press has a thick Neoprene pad that always has the right pressure. Never a staple bump. 😎

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thats a great endorsement!

[@breakbeatz309]

Awesome video

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thanks!

[@leveragecomics5067]

DeAngelo Long at DeePressing comics is a masterclass at pressing!!

[@cjscarboro1999]

Hi. Great channel. Thank you for all of the helpful content. Quick question. Do you make the initial adjustment with the book in the press or do you put it in after that first adjustment?

[@ImmaculateComics]

Hi there! The initial adjustment is with the book in the press. Place the book. Put your aluminum board on top of it. Lower the tid into place and adjust so it it tight. Then pull the lid up a little. Readjust, the. Clamp down fully!

[@ajrilo1776]

These videos are super informative!!! please keep posting, hey would a blue LED light that was 465 nm work for a light box, I was looking for 450-460nm range but stumbled across these, is that really enough difference to not work?? thanks

[@GravelRacer1]

I have no issues with my Vevor clam shall. It pivots front to back so pressure is always even and force applied straight down.

[@ImmaculateComics]

thats great to hear. I have an array of load cells and that demonstrate the pressure near the fulcrum on my old clam shell press is about 20% higher than the pressure that far from the fulcrum. (10 ⅜" away). It's impossible to discern by simply looking at the book but its present and reveals itself weeks or months later in the form of reversion.

[@JamesDf9621]

Nice .. why always use little steam before pressing helps so so much.

[@ImmaculateComics]

Steam does help me too. If the book is silver age or the spine is worn I am to apply it to the insides of the cover only to reduce chances of weakening the spine before pressing. I've heard solem horror stories and one recent one was on an x-men #1!

[@oldmankaens]

Just curious if this is a result of your conversation with Big John and square bound books the other day? Seeded your thought process.

[@ImmaculateComics]

Sort of, yes. I've been considering making a sticker or gauge on the top of a press that shows how much to turn to get 55-60 lb of pressure. I've built several, but it always depends on the thickness of the book. Big John has been telling me his way for a long time of just twisting until it stops, but I tend to like more pressure than that. This is a sort of balance between the two that is more pressure until it just stops, but not so much that it should damage the book. Honestly, it should be slightly more pressure IMHO but this is good enough for a general rule. I've tested it on 21 books, and it is really safe, but it doesn't quite remove everything.

[@johnpopeko]

@ImmaculateComics The one step I didn't mention is that I remove the spine tics and other damage before the pressing process. Maybe I will make a video on my entire technic that way it's better explained.

[@huckcasto6120]

I have a book still in the press after a year maybe 2.

[@ImmaculateComics]

thats one heck of a long time and an incredible margin of error from one year to two. What is the book and why have you left it in so long?

[@uglyewok6715]

What type of press do you use?

[@daushaus89]

So you literally just hand tighten with your book sandwich in the press then open it to add either a quarter turn for non-humidified book and half turn for humidified book?

[@ImmaculateComics]

Thats correct. This pressure ends up being just a little less then I was going to naturally by using a load cell and measuring the pressure. It it about 10-12% lighter on the side of caution to reduce damage. Of course, a humidified book with and especially worn or brittle spine would require even more caution. I use my suqarebound protectors even on some regular books to preserve the spine, if the books are beat up severely.

[@daushaus89]

@@ImmaculateComics square bound protectors?

[@ImmaculateComics]

indeed! immaculatecomics.com/shop/squarebound-protector-prototypes/

[@Surfinvet]

Rick can you do a demo using the square bound protectors?

[@ImmaculateComics]

@@Surfinvet sure!

[@michaelmayrend313]

You made me sad to think that well read low grade comic books are ending up in a dumpster. Every local comic book store, library, and second hand shop should have a donation drop box for those comic books. You too can extend a comic book life.

[@ImmaculateComics]

I think it's a by-product of books being slabbed and graded, shop owners buying large collections, and sales moving to online. If a shop doesn't get much foot traffic and most of its sales are online, then they tend to focus on books that are valuable enough to be worthy of grading; then if they keep buying more collections, they start to run out of room for all of those low-value books that no one is buying. Some shop owners/buyers will just cherry-pick the keys from a collection or buy the whole collection and dispose of the low-value books. They take up space, but no one ever buys.

[@michaelmayrend313]

@@ImmaculateComics My experience is similar. There are two local comic shops in my area that are on the opposite sides of your spectrum. One sells new items in store and the back issues/old items online. The other sells an equal mix of old and new in the shop, and I am not even sure they sell online. When a collection comes in he cherry picks the best stuff for back issues and select customers. And the mid grade to low grade go in the dollar bins. There are enough dollar bin hunters like me that frequent the shop to keep the place from bursting at the seams.

[@pkeel7576]

No two presses are the same