tom,
good luck on the drying out process... i grew up in OH and lived in a
house built in the early 30's; whenever there were downpours, the
basement would flood... and we lost a good amount of things that were
on very bottom shelves or left on the floor, so i know what you are
going through.
jeff
On Feb 12, 2008, at 8:21 PM, Tom Martin wrote:
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
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