Step 2: Spine Cleaning. Antique Leather Book Conservation & Repair.

Explore the steps I take to clean and prepare the spine of this 1880s heirloom book. These steps are necessary for a successful relining process, which you’ll see in the next video.
"Antique Leather Book Conservation & Repair. Step 2: Spine Cleaning" is video 2 in this series on the restoration and repair of this volume.
Kathryn Wright is the owner/conservator of Southern Book & Paper Conservation, LLC, a private practice lab in Macon, Georgia: www.southernbnp.com/
0:00 intro
0:46 delaminating paper
5:44 poulticing and removing paper
11:15 lifting original cloth lining
12:35 poulticing and removing hide glue
🛠TOOLS & MATERIALS🛠
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This commission expense is not passed to you - your price remains the same.
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ARCHIVAL STORAGE
4-flap enclosure: tinyurl.com/rvdjhss6 (Gaylord site)
Polyester L-sleeves for photos & documents: geni.us/mZbn (Amazon). If you have a water incident and these get wet, carefully cut the two sealed sides and remove the top piece of poly so the item can have a opportunity to dry - otherwise it will mold extensively in the plastic
Boxes, various sizes: geni.us/dmN3h (Amazon)
Folders, A4 and legal available: amzn.to/3gZgmqY (Amazon)
Cotton tying tape for weak or detached book boards and covers: geni.us/l5f5U (Amazon).
SMALL BENCH TOOLS
Teflon Bone Folder Set: geni.us/NmPNb (Amazon)
Gingher 8" shears: geni.us/d694 (Amazon)
Iris scissors: I have the curved pair. geni.us/dxmMWT (Amazon)
Olfa Silver knife with refill blades (Art Blade, 30 deg): allows for more precise cuts than the original Olfa Silver. geni.us/nXN5itG (Amazon)
Starrett 12" ruler: geni.us/dTZoy (Amazon)
Starrett 3" dividers: geni.us/Ec4A (Amazon)
Glue brushes: geni.us/WfLaVXX (Amazon)
EQUIPMENT
I got pretty much all of my equipment used on eBay, and I’ve been happy with everything.
Paper cutter (Kutrimmer): ebay.us/BkjrJk
Nipping press. My dimensions: 10”x13” bed/2.75” of daylight: ebay.us/LLT3KZ
Laying/finishing press: I actually prefer a machinist’s press (a 6” Kurt) ebay.us/PQnDZq
Traditional wooden finishing press: ebay.us/XYSMbk
Lectrojog: ebay.us/CDfyxd
Tormek SuperGrind 2000: ebay.us/zHt0Uc
MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
The go-to company for conservation supplies in the US is Talas: www.talasonline.com/.
If you’re a hobbyist bookbinder, book artist, and/or practicing by conserving discard books, I’ll include links below to Amazon, and other vendors who provide materials that are perfect for those pursuits.
Japanese long fiber paper from Hiromi Paper.
Tengujo: tinyurl.com/4yrepkx8
Senka-shi Thick: tinyurl.com/7za85uu2
Leather: www.pergamena.net/
Marbled and Decorative Papers: hollanders.com/
Book cloth: hollanders.com/search?q=cialux
Text and cover weight papers: I usually use Mohawk papers. www.thepapermillstore.com/
Smaller Mohawk sizes: geni.us/tvS8VM (Amazon)
PVA: geni.us/uc8J (Amazon)
Wheat Starch Paste: geni.us/Mcdq (Amazon)
Klucel-G leather consolidant: geni.us/CAswqOY (Amazon)
Isopropyl alcohol (99.9% pure): geni.us/Y2vKHbD (Amazon)
Methyl Cellulose: geni.us/xXw8 (Amazon)
Vulcanized Rubber Sponges: geni.us/WNcTDa
Methyl Cellulose: geni.us/xXw8 (Amazon)
Vulcanized Rubber Sponges: geni.us/WNcTDa
Channel topics:
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[@tersiagiani9548]

May I ask how you make the poultice?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

The poultice is wheat starch paste that I made and used to mend paper tears when it was fresh. After it sits for a couple days, it's wonderful for a poultice. It rehydrates the animal hide glue while holding onto the its moisture and not letting it run into and wet the textblock.

[@ThiagoOliveira-yk5sy]

Do methylcellulose works for this purpose as well?

[@robertphillips93]

As a veteran of thousands of library recasings, I'd like to assure your viewers that they're seeing and hearing the real deal for conservation bookbinding. Although library binders will make different choices later on in the reconstruction process, up to this point they're identical. One tool that was very handy for me in cleaning spines off was the side of a thick-bladed tool called an oyster knife. Very safe on the thread/tapes and with a comfortable fat handle. The "poultice" we used, and which might be suitable for your second poultice, was a coat of our heavier PVA. Almost no wetting of the signatures and doesn't require plastic wrap. But you do have to get to it before it dries, and be prepared to dirty a few shop rags or paper towels! Most of this is removed, so it's still possible to reposition the odd stray signature like this volume has.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Yes, I've read and been told that the oyster knife is a great tool in the lab! I've just got several microspatulas that I enjoy using. And you're correct about the poultice. I use paste to maintain reversibility for the spine's base layer of Japanese tissue. PVA certainly may work better in a circulating collection setting!

[@lukeprice1771]

Fascinating stuff, really helpful and informative. Keep doing what you are doing please.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

I'm glad you're getting something from it! I hope to keep doing these 🤓📚

[@prachipatel8983]

Very cool!

[@wormonastring2169]

Great video! I would love to know what kind of poultice you used, though.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Sorry for the delay. Your comment was held for some reason. The poultice is wheat starch paste that I made and used to mend paper tears when it was fresh. After it sits for a couple days, it's wonderful for a poultice. It rehydrates the animal hide glue while holding onto the its moisture and not letting it run into and wet the textblock.

[@rafaelgelpi5922]

I appreciate the comments as you work on the spine & I know you speed thru repetitive parts, in future can you give a time line as to actual time devoted to each labor? Thanks.

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

I can look up the first video series and let you know. But I do know there was 8 hours of footage of me working on the second book in the series that I just started.

[@EdwinMendez91074]

I deleted my previous comment because watching your video again, I got my answer. My next question is, what kind of poultice do you use and where do you get the poultice to moisturize the spine?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Sorry for the delay. Your comment was held for some reason. The poultice is wheat starch paste that I made and used to mend paper tears when it was fresh. After it sits for a couple days, it's wonderful for a poultice. It rehydrates the animal hide glue while holding onto the its moisture and not letting it run into and wet the textblock.

[@idkwhatimdoing8707]

What is the gel being used for moisture?

[@nigeldams1065]

Question: what is the 'poultice' you mention that you use to moisten the lining, at 5:50 or so?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Sorry for the delay. Your comment was held for some reason. The poultice is wheat starch paste that I made and used to mend paper tears when it was fresh. After it sits for a couple days, it's wonderful for a poultice. It rehydrates the animal hide glue while holding onto the its moisture and not letting it run into and wet the textblock.

[@jayroland9481]

At about 10:50 you mention a "keddle", what is that please?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Hey Jay, that's my southern accent at work! It's a kettle stitch and Kristi Warren has a great tutorial here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3W9d4eQedyHa5I

[@sammykeogh8318]

Could you not of used a small file to brake the seal to let the gel brake down the paper ?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

I'm just being careful to not cut or damage the sewing under the paper and glue. I'm in for several more hours of work if I do!

[@emilyhanson140]

14:43 Mmmmmmm candy coated spine

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

😂 worst candy ever

[@carolynpreston3127]

I have a Bible that needs repair. I live in Elizabethtown Ky. Do you work on Bibles or could you tell me of a reputable company to entrust my Bible?

[@SouthernBookAndPaper]

Hey Carolyn, sorry I didn't notice that your comment was held by KZbin. I do work on Bibles! Feel free to email me some pictures of what's going on to [e-mail] If you want to use someone closer to you, I would check out Amanda Buck. Her contact info is on her site: www.book-restoration.com/