Secrets to Perfectly Pressing Square-Bound Comic Books!

[@DrPaulKosnik]

If you are interested in learning more about comic book conservation, check out our new book, Comic Book Conservation, available exclusively at a discount for a limited time on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/shelbyscomics/comic-book-conservation/

[@dansxmencomics]

“Better if you have a Micronaut” 🤣 That stacking method looks like it worked well! I’ve seen the stopper method but the press usually wasn’t too effective.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Agree. Not to disparage any else's efforts but it seems like a lot of contrived work for not a great outcome. Hopefully this method helps others who are struggling to press square-bound comics.

[@FlyingLComics]

Brilliant as always, Dr. Paul! I am one of those guys who has been using a stack of backer boards as protection of the spine and of course I’ve had mixed results. And you picked the optimal temperature for the book as anything higher will cause the glue on the spine to soften and possibly release pages. I’m definitely going to try your method my next square bound book. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with everyone as always! 🤗

[@DrPaulKosnik]

My pleasure Captain! Please let us know how it works out for your next square-bound comic press!

[@pbales8951]

Ahhh... genius. I've been forgetting the Micronaut! Very nice work, Dr. Paul. Good luck on the submission.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Paul, the Micronaut is key. Not sure how any pressers can be successful without it.

[@ricknestor8930]

this old dog learned a new trick today ! Thank you , Dr. Paul .

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Glad to be of assistance Rick!

[@peteralachi3888]

You added life to this book, Dr Paul. Great technique and let’s hope for a middle-ish CGC grade!

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Thanks Peter, fingers crossed!

[@upnorthcomics]

Always appreciate the history lesson as well as the technique from a veteran like yourself Dr.Paul! Fantastic upload

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Thanks Up North! Glad you enjoyed it. 👍🏽

[@batdadwholaughs]

Good stuff. I had done the cardboard stack to protect. This seems better. Thanks for showing 😊

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Bat Dad happy to help. Let us know how it works out for you!

[@blinky705]

Thanks for this video. I've seen other KZbinrs stack a thin sheaf of paper along the spine to keep the press from crushing it. I wouldn't have thought of inserting sheets into the book itself, but I like the method. I actually have some of these old Marvel annuals that could use a press and maybe I'll test them out.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

My pleasure Blinky! I’ve seen those other methods and think this is easier and works better. 👍🏽

[@allanc5323]

Good pressing methodology for square bound funny books. Thanks.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

My pleasure Allan!

[@micpar2]

Looks so much better already Paul! It amazes me how much a improvement these gems get.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Thank you Mike! I'm just having fun with my hobby and glad to have found an audience for my content and glad to have met some great folks like you to call friend!

[@micpar2]

Same to you! @@DrPaulKosnik

[@howdydoody9217]

Hey Doc! I enjoy all your videos. Someday I’m going to press my comics because most of my older stuff is in desperate need of one. Keep up the great stuff.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Thanks Howdy! Let us know when you get started!

[@Rob-z7k]

I got my iron ready!

[@DIBEE2024]

Oh wow good idea

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Thanks James! I wonder how many other people use this technique?

[@DIBEE2024]

Impressive 6.0 cgc

[@DIBEE2024]

​@DrPaulKosnik 6.0 cgc I think that's what you're going to get I like your Technique way better than what I was doing on both sides stapled books🎉

[@markryan893]

Thankyou for this video. I like your idea of varying the stack of inserted paper sheets based on the individual needs of the book -this makes more sense to me than having a pre-existing shim on the outside of the book. I haven't seen a video here about removing covers from square-bound books -is this something you won't do?

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Thank you. I never say never but that is not something I’ve yet found the need to do!

[@NES-Tone]

Thanks for the video. I'm trying this technique out today.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

@@NES-Tone good luck and let us know how it turns out!

[@NES-Tone]

@@DrPaulKosnik It worked really well! I'll mess around with it some more on some other square bound books. Eventually I'd like to press a bunch of my Nintendo Power Magazines using this technique

[@Ricky-j5k]

Just stumbled across your channel Dr. Paul and I’m already impressed. I like your technique here. Do you know if we can achieve the same results with a prestige format book? To remove finger bends. Thanks for sharing my friend!

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Richard, glad to have you aboard and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, i would approach a prestige format book the same way. They do tend to have the card stock covers though, and these, once they have a crease, are difficult to remove. I have had some luck with minor bends on prestige format books though.

[@danfoley2442]

Hey, Dr Paul. Thanks for sharing your pressing technique for squarebound books! Surprised that you find 999 seconds sufficient to dry a fully hydrated book enough to avoid mild waves in it following pressing. Usually takes me 40 minutes or even multiple presses, at 155*F or so, followed by a cold press of course.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Hey Dan thank you for the kind words! That seems like an awfully long time to have to press a comic book to avoid it developing waves after a press. Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of it. Firstly, it could just be a matter of local humidity. Here in Central Texas we have a semi-humid environment and the relative humidity in my studio is usually around 50-60%. Do you know what your room humidity is? Are you using SRP? I don’t use it much anymore because it’s impervious to water and doesn’t allow enough humidity to escape the comic during pressing for my methods. That is why you see me using card stock and backer boards primarily in my pressing stack.

[@danfoley2442]

Agreed that relative humidity is a key variable! It's currently in the mid to upper 40s near my press. From my experience, mid 30s is pretty optimal, and I've used a room dehumidifier in the past when ambient humidity climbed to the mid 50s or higher. Regarding SRP, I stopped using it in my pressing stack several months ago, for the reason you mentioned. As to the paper goods in the pressing stack - printer paper, card stock, and backer boards - I'm certain they play a critical role in absorbing some of the water vapor being released from the comic during pressing, so I replace all of them (that contact the book) with new stock each time I press a hydrated book, and every 3 or 4 presses otherwise (when their edges become noticeably wavy). I have, however, been using only a sheet of printer paper plus a backer board, both immediately above and below the book in the stack, compared to your double backer board plus a piece of cardstock, and I will try doubling my backer boards. It seemed wasteful and unnecessary to me as far as moisture absorption goes, but it's possible it will have a salutary effect by enlarging the air gap between the top and bottom plates of the press, thus increasing the offgassing freedom for water vapor escaping from the edges of the book. It's also possible that I'm just more OCD than most people about mild hydration-induced waves, as I'm talking here of something like one and a half waves visible when sighting along the top or bottom edge of a book. But i just hate to start with a perfectly flat 55 year old book, improve it with a clean and press, and have it end up with mild waves from the process.

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Dan it sounds like you have all of your bases covered. I'll be interested to hear if you have any improvement by increasing the stack height above and below the comic. For what it's worth, i also replace once the buffer stack starts to develop a curvature, but i think the thicker stack will last a bit longer before it starts to develop a curve on you, so from a cost effectiveness/efficiency perspective i don't think you'll be giving anything up with the thicker stack.

[@billjackson-mk7fw]

Great video! I’m interested in this hobby .Can u suggest a basic to immediate press for purchase?

[@DrPaulKosnik]

Absolutely! I think you’ll find it’s a very rewarding hobby Bill. I’ve organized an Amazon influence page to show you all of the equipment I use. Here is the link: www.amazon.com/shop/libertyhillcomics Specifically, the Tusy is a nice entry level press that will serve you well even as your skills develop: amzn.to/3YqNzjt

[@snakebite9007]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@carlosmedrano7005]

Was there a quiz link? Or were we supposed to put our grade guess in the chat?

[@carlosmedrano7005]

Nevermind I found it

[@DrPaulKosnik]

On the “Community” tab for the Liberty Hill Comics KZbin page for anyone else who is looking!