Tom's story has highlighted for me my large collection of paper items and my current problem.
Recently I moved into an old house with very little storage and lots of little, pokey rooms with even less room for storage. The house is in a flood prone area and while we missed out on the recent floods in the area thankfully, I still have the problem of lots of stuff downstairs. It is safe from water but not from mould and mildew. I bought some stuff up recently and they have the beginnings of some nasty stuff growing on them. Aside from bringing everything up (not really an option) is there any way I can store these things in the interim? Everything is in cardboard boxes downstairs. Thanks, Natalie --- On Wed, 13/2/08, Tom Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Tom Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [MOPO] Mopo - salvageing FLOOD paper - a report- and experiance > To: [email protected] > Received: Wednesday, 13 February, 2008, 3:21 PM > 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. Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail 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.
