Top Secret Comic Book Cleaning!

Looking to start cleaning and pressing your own books? Here are two guides to help you get started!
Looking to start cleaning and pressing your own books? Here are two guides to help you get started!
Comic Book CPR: amzn.to/3aydbqa
Comic Book Stain Removal and Whitening: amzn.to/3Po9T7H
Links to the tools I use:
15x15 Press: amzn.to/3OwZ6aS
Makeup Pads: amzn.to/3tWOASq
Absorene Eraser: amzn.to/3HUTNjC
Absorene Putty: amzn.to/3PuxMe7
Artist Eraser: amzn.to/3ndANTH
Magic Eraser: amzn.to/3ORrHbG
Hydrogen Peroxide: amzn.to/3OgRDx6
Mister Bottle: amzn.to/3A08lwu
Copy Paper: amzn.to/3zYSyxL
65lb Paper: amzn.to/3zNEGoj
100lb Paper: amzn.to/3OiN4lT
Magazine Backer Boards: amzn.to/3yfFyTf
Blue LED Lights: amzn.to/3zDhiuD
Light Bulb Cord: amzn.to/3bomgSF

[@hobbyhero6973]

What’s your guess on the grade?

[@l.greenemachine66]

I think, between 8.0& 9.4

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@l.greenemachine66 I’d be over the moon with that!

[@oldcomiccollector8228]

8.0 👍

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@oldcomiccollector8228 🤞

[@acesontilt77]

I think a solid 8.5 with White/Off-white pages.

[@pbales8951]

A bold strategy Cotton... removing those staples. It's really hard to get the ends to stay in line when bending them back. It turned out really nice, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this drop in grade a little. The color pop kind of accentuates the defects a little more.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Yeah, not my first choice on the staples but there was no other way to treat inside cover unfortunately. You are also absolutely correct that the treatments make all the whites pop even the color breaks.

[@bigdavebooth]

Great video, love watching these kinda videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thank you! I enjoy sharing it

[@SwytchComics]

That is a beautiful book! I can't wait to see what it comes back as. A bit jealous of that one!

[@hobbyhero6973]

Not a huge Iron Man fan but he has a few really iconic covers

[@l.greenemachine66]

I tell you what, if and when I send something in to get graded, I'm sending them to you first to clean if you do that. What are you doing awesome job, and watching your videos, you seem very trustful. A good guy all around. And thank you again for all the information you could give us.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Have a pretty big announcement regarding this that should be coming down the line here soon!

[@l.greenemachine66]

AWESOME!! RIGHT ON!!

[@hobbyhero6973]

Appreciate it

[@joelnatkin7509]

Hilarious intro! Love your videos.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Well thank you very much Joel! I love your comments!

[@acesontilt77]

I always enjoy your how to videos boss. I press and clean my own books as well and your Peroxide technique is amazing! I have added it to my tool belt for me and my friends. Thanks for all the great information it is GREATLY appreciated.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thank you for the kind words! Getting this process refined was an absolute game changer for what you can do with comic cleaning.

[@acesontilt77]

@@hobbyhero6973 Yes it is. I have told all my friends about this and they were hesitant to say the least. But I showed them all using a heavily foxed book that came out blinging in white after. Needless to say they lined up after to have me do theirs.

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@acesontilt77 yeah I had done some blue light treatment before with mixed results but this process really seem to get the right mix of risk vs reward

[@mikaelschaefer7720]

It will come back with a different color tag on the grading saying restored

[@hobbyhero6973]

It could but I would be very surprised if so. I’ve done a number of books like this and only ever had one come back restored.

[@copetcapulin]

Like always GREAT JOB.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Much appreciated 🙏

[@clelandwarrenjr850]

Amazing job nicely done sir

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thank you sir!

[@BrooklynAvenue]

Book is clean but all the color breaks are brighter too. Worth it, but that's the cost. Thanks for showing this, I was wondering about my own pressing and how I too made color breaks more 'apparent' with a clean.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Yeah, it makes all the whites brighter not just the ones you want.

[@garyw.9628]

Amazing transformation of this comic ! The negation of the tanning was the most remarkable aspect. Regardless of the grade that it comes back at, the eye appeal is unbelievable now, whereas before it was pretty blah.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Absolutely. The comic will pop as a display piece now regardless of the grade.

[@sinfullygoodcomics8167]

Haha great intro! These are fun videos to watch!

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thanks. Really just felt the need to stretch the acting muscles 😂

[@dalefutrelle1441]

I'm curious to see if CGC will ding you for staple manipulation. They looked pretty crooked when you bent them back in place.

[@hobbyhero6973]

They haven't yet. The only time I've seen them note staples if there were signs of rust on paper and the staples are clean. Could be a risk but shouldn't effect grade and can't imagine they would give it a different color label

[@matthewmarquis8732]

Amazing!

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thanks! I think it is going to display beautifully

[@richb1016]

That iron man book has been a grail of mine since I was a kid. I can afford it now… but having the money and convincing the lady I live with are two separate things

[@hobbyhero6973]

I know that struggle too well 😆

[@locutus99]

@@hobbyhero6973 me too (not #metoo)

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@locutus99 😆

[@jerrythejitterbugcomicbook4098]

Great upload Charles. I happy you did this one because I plan on working on my Iron Man 1 shortly. I’m glad you removed the cover before your treatment. I think that is the better approach. I definitely am curious how CGC is going to grade. Looking forward to the results.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thanks! I definitely don’t prefer to remove covers if it can be avoided. Not my strong suit.

[@dkthief]

Awesome video. Just found you posts. Very informative. Would have never though of using the Hyro Perox sheet. Very nice. For the Iron Man 1 what temp and time did you press for?

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thanks! As for the Iron Man; the time and the temps vary depending on the step of the process you are on. Feel free to hit me up on IG or messenger for specific questions.

[@vincentg8509]

Great job looks so much nicer. Do you also over lay a sheet of printer paper soaked in water between hydrogen peroxide overlays? Keep the videos coming always interesting

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thank you and I have in the past but not always. Really depends on how the paper is reacting to the treatments.

[@ImproveCollectingComics]

6.5 to 7.5 IMO. You're allowed a max of 2" of creasing on a 7.0, but 6" on a 6.5. I think the basement is 6.5.. I'd actually grade this 7.5 due to there really only being one moderate or borderline major defect on the book. I could see a generous grader going 8.0. I'm just not sure how to add up the color breaks on the front cover. It doesn't really matter though, the book looks infinitely better now! Great job!

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thank you and that’s right where I am on it too.

[@Joeh1154]

I have to say you are a brave soul for the staple removal. That's something I doubt I would try ever and it brings a thought to my mind. Staple placement and the possibility of breaking a staple during the pressing. I would think it's possible and even likely so, I wonder if staples in proper alignment with the spine as opposed to where these staples were on this particular book would create a bigger challenge when pressing. Like I said, you're a brave soul. This book was a 7.0 before you uncased it. My thought is I would have liked to see it after the final pressing but my opinion is you could get bumped up to a 7.5 or even an 8.0 but in the back of my mind, if CGC thinks the staples are not exactly where the are supposed to be you might get a green label or maybe even the dreaded purple label. Yikes. Still, I'd like to see your next video when the book comes back. Lastly, I will say I like the hydrogen peroxide treatment and prior to watching your videos, I've never seen that technique before. Thanks for turning me on to that. I've not tried it yet but it is something that I will eventually try. Thanks for posting another very informative video. Best to all.

[@hobbyhero6973]

I avoid staple removal whenever I can. It’s not an exact science and has a lot of risk. Was the only way to properly treat this book due to the poor placement.

[@Joeh1154]

@@hobbyhero6973 Sure. I never thought you did that on a regular basis. I've also seen your interview with Immaculate Comics and the perspectives are just excellent stuff for me to hear. These, to me, are like master classes. Take care.

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@Joeh1154 well I appreciate the kind words. I try to take the safest path on most books. Push the envelope sometimes and sometimes it’s too far 😅

[@daviclar867]

Impressive. Did you make sure the top staple went back in the same way it came out. Ditto with bottom staple?

[@hobbyhero6973]

I do try to make sure they go back in the same way. Not sure it makes a difference though.

[@mauricedevereaux6573]

Kudos!...:)

[@hobbyhero6973]

Thanks! I think it turned out well. Can't wait to see it in the new slab!

[@bennettbennettsb]

It almost seems like you glanced over the most important part.. the paper soaked in hydrogen peroxide I wish you would have talked a little bit more about that... and as far as the lights go I've had zero success with lights I bought so many different types of Amazon and had zero results.. even used the links people have provided me still zero results

[@hobbyhero6973]

Yeah, I don't do step by step because I really wouldn't recommend trying these processes from the videos alone so there definitely is some missing info. If you have questions or are hitting a roadblock on your results feel free to hit me up on IG or FB anytime

[@wardallen1941]

I think I have the same mister - having trouble with droplets being too big - pooling on cover. Have you tried just using steamer instead to avoid droplets?

[@hobbyhero6973]

I do use a steamer but not with H2O2 solution just to humidify spots of the book

[@godofgraphite737]

Will you do this for books that we send you, and if so, how much?

[@hobbyhero6973]

Yeah shoot me a message on FB or Instagram

[@RichardRennes]

I`ve been using a Staedtler white rubber eraser for around 30-35 years, usually on sports cards, but the odd time on comics a long time ago, but have never sent in anything for grading that I used the eraser on. I know the rubber eraser removes the gloss on cards and comics, do the grading companies ding you on the grading for the lost gloss from using the eraser?

[@hobbyhero6973]

If you remove the gloss they can ding you if they notice it. I’ve not had it happen yet as a result of using one though

[@danfoley2442]

The Staedtler eraser is my personal favorite for comic book dry cleaning, with the Pentel a super close second. I almost never attempt to clean colored areas of the covers with any eraser, as the risk (certainty?) of color loss is just too great. In contrast, a reasonable amount of pressure can be used when erasing white areas, notably the wide white borders around the back cover ads on silver age books, as long as the book is subsequently pressed. The heat of the press seems to even out and somewhat restore the gloss on erased white areas of the cover, as well as usually rejuvenating and making the (unerased) colors pop. I've never been dinged by CGC for excessive erasing in the grader notes for any of the 100s of books I've sent them.

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@danfoley2442 thanks for the additional input!

[@herc20000]

I know you have improved the colour of the paper, but I just wonder, for comics like this, is it worth all the hassle? I know if you're trying to get a 9.4 to a 9.8, then obviously there's a lot of money involved and if you don't do it, someone else will. But for a book like this, FN/VF, to improve paper quality and you might get the same grade possibly a bump up or down is it worth all that time, you could be spending more time on something else that might get a significant bump that is worthwhile.

[@hobbyhero6973]

For some people the presentation is more important than the overall grade. The book needed reholdered so take the opportunity to clean it up and make it look it’s best

[@kasp0205]

Hey What solution of hydrogen peroxide do you use ? Best Regards

[@hobbyhero6973]

I use the 3% solution you would find at the pharmacy

[@philipfletcher4867]

Going to be a 8.0 my guess, and it is just so clean.

[@hobbyhero6973]

That would be great. Definitely presents like one

[@jdh6752]

This scares me. I always thought water/moisture makes comic covers wrinkle and damages their lustre. Incidentally, what strength of peroxide do you use, and is it liquid peroxide as oppose to cream?

[@hobbyhero6973]

Adding moisture to paper will cause paper to expand so that can cause splits and tears so you have to be careful. I use 3% hydrogen peroxide though

[@jdh6752]

@@hobbyhero6973 What's your thoughts on using Naphtha?

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@jdh6752 not familiar with it . Is it a cleaning agent?

[@BrooklynAvenue]

3% or 12% on hydrogen peroxide? How long press/temperature?

[@hobbyhero6973]

I use 3% and times and temps vary from book to book. If you have a specific book your working on feel free to shoot me some pics on IG or FB.

[@BrooklynAvenue]

@@hobbyhero6973 Thanks for your response! I find the hydrogen peroxide cleaning works so well. I use 3% as well.

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@BrooklynAvenue it is so much safer and more effective than the wet cleaning methods I used before

[@gregm7269]

I had so much anxiety when you started to remove the staples!!

[@hobbyhero6973]

You and me both! Do not recommend unless absolutely necessary

[@shepherdsknoll]

What percentage of Hydrogen Peroxide do you use ?

[@hobbyhero6973]

Just the 3% solution you can find at the drug store

[@shepherdsknoll]

@@hobbyhero6973 , thank you, nice channel! One additional question ; when misting with the HP , does the HP ever dull or change the colors ? Wondered if you try to cover the colors or noticed a difference in any way. I believe Rick at Immacuclean mentioned that he has not seen a change in the colors yet.

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@shepherdsknoll no, if anything usually brightens them and makes reds/yellows really pop

[@mauricedrew9544]

Removing staples doesn’t end up as a purple label

[@hobbyhero6973]

Correct, now if you replace them and they can tell then it could result in purple label.

[@cintrondigitalmedia]

Work on your audio dude.

[@hobbyhero6973]

Yeah, the speaker was facing wrong way for the first part. Tried to adjust in editing but didn’t do as much as I hoped.

[@cintrondigitalmedia]

@@hobbyhero6973 I raised the volume and at the end it blasted in my ear. Great content though.

[@hobbyhero6973]

@@cintrondigitalmedia yeah didn’t catch it unfortunately. Thanks for the heads up