Hello Folks - Last Thursday I had a basement flood.. Thought I would
offer some
Facts that may save others from this. Hers what I did and some ideas..
One dont leave boxes on basement floor near a Floor-drain. DUH!!! well
i just bought the house in Agust so I didnt think it was a issue
as the baeement is finished with a wood floor. The area I had the boxes
was furnace room that has a cement foor. I had thought enoght to put 2
x4 lumber under most of the boxes yet I had some with Books on the
floor. When I saw 2 1/2 inches of water I initially went into shock.
Then I went to hardware and bought a sumppump. This will take the water
via a garden hose up the stiars outside. Lucky it was clean clean
rainwater from melted snow so it wasnt dirty sewage. Next I took the
books and decided I would practice
learning Book drying. Many of these books were 1st edition coffee table
and Films of Books and some nice Photography Books in the 20-100 range.
So i called a rooto rooter sewer cleaner company and they came out and
opend whatever blocked it for 118.00 with sumppump another 50 and hose
24.00
Then O called my insureance.. My policy doe NOT cover back up
rainwater.. so it was a loss of items and costs to repair.
So as I looked at the books I thought, This is actually a oportunity to
learn restoration..even if I just bring to reading copy quality this
could be a service i could offer to help collectors and also save others
in same situation. So heres what I did.. I have taken each book and
movie magazine and have dryed papge by page.with a hair dryer and fans.
Its a very long process and when you 1st start the pages are like sealed
together and very tender and can rip... so hers my process: I take the
Book and fanfold out and from the top I hit with blasts of heated air..
the pages eventually will scatter apart it just take patience and being
gentle at that stage,, then as the pages spread open I leave the book
open and turn upside down and do other side.. The enamel coated paper
stock tends to stick harder however heat will get it to release
The Pulp stock hold more water however tends to release better. Then the
paper will get mottled and krinkled appearance and fluff out.. so the
book expands in size and looks hopeless.. Yet satge two is a BOOK PRESS
I had one and its a cast iron flat clamping devive that presses the book
out tite and flat and even.. I have movie magazines in there now and
they Look good.. Just remember to allow to dry as
the wetness cause the sticky pages.. also.... another trick i was told
about from libraiand to remove smells and water is to immerce the items
in KITTY litter and it absorbes oders and also moisture and stups or
inhibits the musty mold growth.. OXygen is best and circulated air, so
Like for instance I have the hugest Book Of Christopher Finch - The art
Of walt disney that is tons of pages and so i took a fan to keep air on
it It looks like a Hoge flower at monet boy after its dryed then Ill
clamp and allow to be pressed
Also.. you can IRON out kinkles with a Clothing iron.. USE a slip sheet
so not to scortch the paper
also some steem with take wrinkles out also rolling the pages reformes
the paper.. all paper was made wet when it was made so its all good..
anyways that my progess so far Ive put several days into it.
The other thing when having a loss like this.. I thought Of all the new
Orleans people and California Fore people and see that my losses were
nothing.. so after grieving over the books I thought.. Im glad this
happened..
Also its the 1st time ive looked page by page in years so i rediscovered
lots of Images I forgot..
One book was on LanaTurner written By a customer one of my 1st LOU
VALENTINO- Lou bought Movie magazine from me when I was just gettin
started and used some in the Book,, so It was awesome deeing his book..
Lou aslso was art editor for LIFE magazine and went to Peopleand helped
me in 1989 get a article on Adam West in people.. so it was a great
flashback... Also my Hurrell book was in there..
and George said he couldnt even find them when he wated one, and also a
book on CS BULL.
and about 40 others,, the Movie mags were not a bad loss but some great
Covers like Colbert, Lana, Hayworth, Ror and Dale, and some Tony Curtis
and Leigh. All in All this was a great experiance
To prepare me and get me to consider new strategies for storage and what
if senerios.
I suggest that Plastic bins and storeing in areas that have no water
pipes and not water seeping areas
and perhaps even in higher area remember rooks can leak so covering in
plastic may be best
Hope that helps someone best to all. what a education :)
Tom
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
