Revealed: Comic Book Wet Cleaning, Resizing, & Paper Mending!

Flash 123 Comic Book Conservation Project Ep. 3.
In this video I continue the comic book conservation project for this copy of Flash 123, the first appearance of the Golden Age Flash in the Silver Age, and the first acknowledgement of an alternate reality in which the Golden Age heroes exist, which is the beginning of the multiverse concept in comic books. It was published in September 1961 by DC Comics and credited to writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino.
In today’s video we’re going to complete all of the work on the cover-wet clean, deacidify, resize, and tear seal.
These techniques are considered archival and when executed properly do not trigger purple or restored label when submitting your comic books to CGC.
#comicbooks #comicbookcollecting
#comicbookcleanandpress #comicbookconservation #comicbookrestoration #comicbookdrycleaning #comicbookwetcleaning #silveragecomics #silveragecomicbooks #dccomics #theflash #dcu #dcuniverse #flashoftwoworlds #goldenagecomics #jaygarrick #barryallen
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
Triton X-100: amzn.to/3GGg0Ch
Slabbed Comic Books for sale on Shortboxed:
Shortboxed.com/...
My eBay Store (raw comics & more!):
www.ebay.com/u...

[@FlyingLComics]

Dr. Paul! Another great job! And thank you very much for the honorable mention! I have a great interest in re-sizing the books and I was interested to find if you had a good ratio that you’re happy with the methylcellulose to the calcium hydroxide mixture. It looks like you hit the nail perfectly. I was always concerned with the methylcellulose really loosening up the inks in the paper, I think timing is everything. I think you did a great job! I think I am going to make an attempt at re-sizing using your technique. As always. you are a great teacher!😊

[@peteralachi3888]

Colors are really vibrant. More support in this video for the friction hypothesis during rocking as the culprit.

[@technoviking4131]

I'm always deeply impressed with your approach, analysis and outcomes. Well done sir! And thank you for sharing the journey with us!

[@sarahd4967]

Nice work!

[@travismoriarty669]

Wonderful video. I have been waiting on this one to see if the rocking proved to be the culprit. With your results i am ready to try another with no rocking.

[@travismoriarty669]

Results were great. Minimal color loss to areas where there was an existing readers crease. No large areas of slouched off color. I am assuming where the color is broken already like the crease it's reasonable some minimal fecks might fall away. Still learning but digging my journey.

[@dkthief]

Very nice work as always. would remmay work as well or is better to just use hollytex

[@marksiniard9731]

Wow, what a difference! As I am new to your channel I don't know and don't wish to offend by asking but, do you do this kind of work for anyone who wishes to hire/pay for your services? I have a lot of books I would love to have cleaned, repaired and pressed.

[@fasteddief]

Hi Dr Paul, a huge fan of your work and you've certainly inspired me to start experimenting myself! I am working my way through all of your videos but I had a couple of questions (the answers to which may still be a going concern) 1) is the tengujo paper strong enough to hold staples in the event of repair of a book with blown staples/detached cover? 2) do you think that a copper age comic could withstand the aqueous baths? I suppose there may well be variance with respect to ink colours etc Your insight is much appreciated! - Gus

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Gus, Appreciate the feedback and the questions! I hope your comic book conservation is off to a great start. 1) If the original paper is missing, Tengujo alone is not going to make a great repair. It's much better if the original paper is still there but ripped, and can be repaired with the Tengujo. If that is not possible, best practice is to leaf cast new pulp into the hole. Failing that, you can use Tengujo from both the outside and inside and get a passable result. 2) Yes in my experience your Copper Age comics are going to behave similarly to the Bronze Age stuff. Good Luck and let us know how it goes!

[@Johnny-dz6vl]

Unbelievable amount of garbage from the cover 👍👍 well done 😊

[@micpar2]

This issue should look great now after removing all that grime.

[@chuckhiggins7666]

Great job… Japanese fibers? What is it?