How To Restore Comic Book Cover Gloss!

Fantastic Four 17 Ep. 4.
In this video I continue a short conservation project for this copy of Fantastic Four #17, published by Marvel Comic in August of 1963 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This comic book is 60 years old and it needs a little bit of our help making sure it survives the next 60 years.
In this episode i trim the excess tengujo paper from our tear seal operations, and demonstrate how to restore the gloss of the cover after wet cleaning.
The techniques demonstrated here should result in a CGC Conserved label and in my experience when executed properly do not trigger purple or restored label from CGC.
#comicbooks #comicbookcollecting
#comicbookcleanandpress #comicbookconservation #comicbookrestoration #comicbookdrycleaning #comicbookwetcleaning #silveragecomics #silveragecomicbooks #marvelcomics #fantasticfour #mcu #comicbookstaples #archival
List of materials and tools I use for cleaning and pressing comic books and links to purchase them on Amazon:
Resource Books
Comic Book CPR: amzn.to/3OVR9fe
Comic Book Stain Removal and Whitening: amzn.to/3d9kPIE
Comic Book Pressing and Cleaning: A How To Guide: amzn.to/3BRu4Hw
Equipment
Tusy Press: amzn.to/3YqNzjt
10X Magnifying lamp with LED ring light: amzn.to/3XTnPMH
UV LED Flashlight for detecting Restoration: amzn.to/3SGrSbh
3M P95 Respirator for use with organic solvents: amzn.to/3DdqE1B
Dry Cleaning Tools
Pentel Clic Eraser that i prefer: amzn.to/3A7d5jo
Refills for Pentel Clic Eraser: amzn.to/3p9kSHe
Staedler Mars Vinyl Eraser: amzn.to/3BUGDC1
Prismacolor Magic Rub White Block Eraser: amzn.to/3zNq5Ju
Kneaded Eraser: amzn.to/3bHeQdL
Absorene Putty: amzn.to/3djmxr4
Mini Eraser: amzn.to/3QhxAzE
Prismacolor Art Gum Eraser: amzn.to/3JGchoQ
Dotting tools for hand-working creases and dents: amzn.to/3Abampe
Sticker Removal Tool: amzn.to/3Pbg2Uj
LEDs for Photo Bleaching: amzn.to/3AaEb9d
Galvanized Wire for making staples: amzn.to/3QNXZol
Magazine Backer Boards: amzn.to/3S6h6KQ
65 lb Card Stock: amzn.to/3MwBtQa
Strathmore Bristol Paper for pressing: amzn.to/3qAQb1q
Aluminum plate for pressing: amzn.to/3EDDZlv
Crepe Square Eraser: amzn.to/3Dlq4ym
Wet Cleaning Tools
Un-Du: amzn.to/3dmQSok
Mister spray bottle, darkened for H2O2: amzn.to/3nqKT70
Photography tray for wet cleaning: amzn.to/3dgpUyQ
Non-woven polyester sheet or Remay for wet cleaning: amzn.to/3ZpnOPB
Ultra-Fine Stainless Steel Forceps: amzn.to/3N806CJ
Stainless Steel micro-spatula: amzn.to/3W0EBIc
Teflon-coated micro-spatula: amzn.to/3JGyJ19
Methyl Cellulose: amzn.to/3QhfL3y
Wheat Paste: amzn.to/3MXL2s2
Calcium Hydroxide: amzn.to/3zHXs0p
Bestine Solvent: amzn.to/3VpyYDi
Slabbed Comic Books for sale on Shortboxed:
Shortboxed.com/...
My eBay Store (raw comics & more!):
www.ebay.com/u...

[@pbales8951]

The amount of gloss after wiping with the dry & wet cotton round is amazing!

[@Fan4Collecting]

Watch because of the Fantastic Four. You made this seem easy, but I I’m time, supplies and others costs require considerably more from someone to do this. Fantastic results! 👍

[@peteralachi3888]

Outstanding work, excellent results.

[@Johnny-dz6vl]

Today I'm ready ...household clean,cat and dog fed ,coffee brewed ...yep lets go.😊😊

[@Johnny-dz6vl]

😊😊

[@Johnny-dz6vl]

Very good result with the back 👍👍

[@miketalife]

Never knew any of this was possible 👍 Very interesting, thanks.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Glad you enjoyed it Mike!

[@jonandblanca]

Hi Dr. Paul. I enjoy your videos and I am constantly learning a lot. I do have a question, and I hope you can provide some insight. I performed 4 aqueous baths using your methods with mixed results. I was really pleased with the results of two of the baths. The other two baths completely removed the gloss and some color on the front and back covers. There was also a white residue (powder like) remaining on the books after drying for 24 hours. I believe my Calcium Hydroxide solution is too strong but I am using the proper ml's for each wash. The covers also felt softer and a little brittle. Is there a way to reintroduce gloss back to the comic after the aqueous bath? I am also thinking of performing an aqueous bath with 500 ml of warm water and 5 drops of Triton X-100 only, and then repeat only with warm water. Would that be a recommended approach as well? I appreciate it. Keep up the good knowledge. Thanks, Jon-

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Jon, thank you for the kind words. Sorry to hear you had some unfavorable results. Can you give more specifics about the exact solutions and conditions used, timing, and the specific comic books so that I might be able to help you troubleshoot your process?

[@jonandblanca]

@@DrPaulKosnik Hi Dr. Paul, Thanks for the fast reply. Below are the steps I take for the aqueous bath. I did not perform the steps for resizing though. I create a comic sandwich between two polyester fabric sheets and rock the solution at the 3 minute mark 3 or four times. The bath lasts for 5 minutes for 3 washes. Below are the solutions I use for each wash. Wash 1 Wet Clean and Deacidify • 400 ml Warm Water • 100 ml Saturated Calcium Hydroxide • 5 Drops Triton X-100 Empty out tray and perform Wash 2 Wash 2 Wet Clean and Deacidify • 400 ml Warm Water • 300 ml Saturated Calcium Hydroxide Empty out tray and perform Wash 3 Wash 3 Wet Clean and Deacidify • 400 ml Warm Water • 300 ml Saturated Calcium Hydroxide The two comics that had unfavorable results were silver age comics, Tales of Suspense #96 and The Amazing Spider-Man #62. There were two that I considered successes though. Amazing Spider-Man #72 and Thor #138. I must point out for each wash that I performed, the inside covers for each book looked amazing especially considering that there was quite a bit of staining/tanning on each book. Thanks, Jon-

[@Anybodiesguess1001]

Hello, what weight of Tangujo paper do you use for silver age (3, 5 or 9 gsm?)

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Hey Trevor I use the 5 GSM. 👍🏽

[@Anybodiesguess1001]

Thanks!