S1 E3 How to Make Your Own Humidity Chamber Tank for Pressing Comic Books by KaptainMyke

S1 E3 How to Make Your Own Humidity Chamber Tank by KaptainMyke This episode features 1983 Marvel Comics AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #245 1st appearance and death of Hobgoblin II. This book is 2.0-3.0 with heavy creasing and wrinkles but could benefit from a treatment in the humidity chamber tank. All supplies can be found at your local hardware store or in the provided links below:
by KaptainMyke, owner of www.kaptainmyke....
HOW TO PRESS COMIC BOOKS:
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HOW TO CLEAN COMIC BOOKS:
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FACEBOOK GROUP:
/ kaptainmykecomicpressing
KNOW WHEN TO USE HUMIDITY
I cannot stress this enough: not all books require moisture. Do not place a new modern age glossy cover, glossy interior pages comic book inside a humidity chamber. Chances are it will ruin the book. The modern age new books produced now are very forgiving with press machines without moisture. Do not leave a comic book inside humidity chamber over 6 hours. You will start to wash out colors.
Use humidity on books that feature:
Golden Age
Silver Age
Subscription folds
Bunched spines
Deep creaselines
Spine straightening
Spine rolls
Stubborn creasing
Corner flaps
Do NOT use humidity on books that feature:
Glossy paper
Glossy thin paperstock covers
Thin books with less than 5 pages
New Modern Age comics 2002-Present
Sticker or Tattooz inserts
Brittle pages
Loose pieces
Spine splits greater than 1"
Detached covers
Detached pages
Rusty staples
DISTILLED WATER
Always use distilled water. There are no minerals or dirt in distilled water. Otherwise you will get water spots and staining from the minerals if you do not use distilled water. It is recommended to empty the water chamber after several uses, or you will develop unwanted mildew. Do not use tap water. Water stains and water spots can develop on your book. Tap water also can cause off-white pages.
USING HUMIDIFICATION
Most books will not require humidity. If a book is old, brittle, feels very dry and rigid to the touch - then you should probably use humidity. Time and patience will guide you. Always better to use not enough humidity with a slightly disappointing press with no damage to the book and do it again than to use TOO MUCH humidity and ruin the book, right?! Too much humidity and too much heat can cause edge flaring and a wavy cover. If you are using a clothes steamer, be sure to steam from a safe 1-2 foot distance so droplets of water don’t splash on the book. This can create light circle spots when dry. Also do not over steam staples or they will rust. The safest method would be to make your own hydration humidifier chamber with basic supplies at Home Depot.
This book has now been received back from CGC and was graded 9.8 NM on 12/18/2018: bit.ly/2GFxNwT (Photos)

[@kaptainmyke]

For a complete comprehensive list of recommend products, please go to www.kaptainmyke.com/products

[@kaptainmyke]

This book has now been received back from CGC and was graded 9.8 NM on 12/18/2018: bit.ly/2GFxNwT (Photos)

[@dkthief]

Great Video. Should the water be changed out for each comic when placed in the Humidity Chamber?

[@kaptainmyke]

Yes - this prevents mold and mildew. Your tank should always be wiped dry and clean after each use. There should always be an ozone smell inside the tank.

[@kaptainmyke]

Another way to use a humidity tank can be found in S2 E8 episode of this playlist series. At the 29:19 mark :)

[@robertmorgan5785]

Doesn't all water turn into distilled water when it becomes steam? Just saying.

[@Scvzombie661]

All I can find is screen made from fiberglass. Will this type of screen work the same as a synthetic nylon screen?

[@kaptainmyke]

You can use anything as a screen. You can use paper towels, assembled magazine, bag, and boards, or anything to act as a barrier from water droplets.

[@PasspointComics]

Have you ever. had condensation drip on comic books?

[@kaptainmyke]

Honestly? I have not. It’s more of a precaution.

[@JoeyRam.]

I have seen people using 1 humidifier in low setting facing a corner instead of pouring water in the container. What are your thoughts on this?

[@kaptainmyke]

A humidity tank is more reliable and safer to use.

[@JoeyRam.]

@@kaptainmyke OK. Another thing, it doesn't matter the thickness or if it doesn't have staples? Example: I have Lobo Annual: Bloodlines - Outbreak...is about 1/4" and the top of the pages are wavei.

[@kaptainmyke]

@@JoeyRam. No humidity is key to get those creases and waves flat and straight

[@larryziegelman1879]

I tried to build a humidity tank. Followed all the steps. I used a bowl and added 2 cups of room temp distilled water. Heavy jug holding the lid down. I don't see any humidity forming at all after 8 hours. I checked it and the towels feels dry. What could I have done wrong?

[@kaptainmyke]

Try it without using a bowl. Pour your water in the bottom of the tank. Also, you want the room temperature to be cooler than the temperature inside the tank. Try boiling 1 cup of distilled water and adding it to a cup of room temperature distilled water. You could set the tank under a sunny window sill as well. Use plastic chip clips to clamp sides of lid to makes sure its a tight seal. Good luck!

[@larryziegelman1879]

@@kaptainmyke Thank you. It's under a window right now. I'll try the boiling water trick tomorrow!

[@ragecomics130]

I have a chromium book that is NM but would like to give a press before sending to CGC, is this advisable? Not a foil but the chromium cover, thanks.

[@shellbackcomicpressing9725]

Do you flip the book even if using steel plates? Are the window screens reusable?

[@kaptainmyke]

I personally still choose to flip the book over. For brand new modern age comics, I flip/repeat 2-3 hours later. For books printed prior to 2002, with flat or matte printed interior pages I flip/repeat the next day. You can use anything from assembled magazine bag/boards, window screens, paper towels, or anything you'd like that blocks water droplets. Depending on your relative humidity of the pressing room, you can adapt to your local environment. For instance, if your relative humidity in your pressing room is above 50%, I would crack the lid open 1 inch on your humidity tank so your books aren't oversaturated. If your relative humidity level is less than 40% in the pressing room, I would seal the lid air tight and place a heavy object on top to keep it shut tight. I should probably make an updated video for the humidity tank since this was uploaded almost 4-5 years ago.

[@snowman-wd5bt]

What is the window screen for?

[@pkeel7576]

Use a towel for your lid it's less dangerous

[@kaptainmyke]

placing paper towels above and below the book inside the window screens also helps

[@1xbanditagain142]

@@kaptainmyke Can you please post a LINK to where I can find the Synthetic Nylon Window Screen? I think I found it on Amazon but it was $52.99, that sounds expensive. Also, I have seen other videos where they use some kind of polyester fabric. What are your thoughts on this and can you provide some details please. Thanks in advance for your kind advice.

[@kaptainmyke]

1XBandit You can even just use paper towels or a terrycloth towel

[@1xbanditagain142]

@@kaptainmyke Thanks Kaptain Myke, I'll give it a try.

[@Bbsean95]

@@1xbanditagain142 how did you process go ? did you opt to just use paper towels??

[@dashrendar99]

Camera work made me barf. Slow down, buddy.