Re: [GBW] washing family documents

[William Minter <wminter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Frank,
BRAVO!!!  ---- I was going to write, but obviously you have more  
experience with bleaching.
I would only add that a person must also be keenly aware that some  
inks might bleed when soaked in water --- this applies to both  
handwritten as well as some printed inks.
Bill Minter


On Nov 7, 2007, at 10:23 AM, Frank Mowery wrote:

> Unbelievable.    Chloramine T has not been used in the conservation of
> Paper for over 30 years.
> In the 70s conservation scientists found out that it was one of the  
> most
> insidious bleaches that had been used on paper. It is practically
> impossible to remove from the paper once applied and over time will
> destroy the paper.
>
> Please stop and refrain from bleaching paper this way.  For
> nonprofessionals the only "safe" method is Light bleaching, where one
> places the paper to be bleached in a tray with 1-2 inches of pure  
> water
> (not contaminated by copper or galvanized iron pipes)  and expose  
> it to
> intense sunlight or a bank of cool white UV shielded florescence.
> Depending on the stain it may take several hours or more.  Wash the
> paper again after light bleaching to further remove degradation  
> products
> released during the bleaching process.
>
> One of the most difficult objects I have been faced to treat are  
> papers
> that were "bleached" in the past and were done improperly and without
> careful subsequent treatments.  They are always brown (in a unnatural
> way and tone) and very brittle.
>
> J. Franklin Mowery
> Head of Conservation
> Folger Shakespeare Library
> 201 East Capitol St. SE
> Washington DC. 20003
> 202-675-0332
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gbw-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:gbw-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steven Hales
> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:24 AM
> To: The email list for Guild of Book Workers member communications
> Subject: Re: [GBW] washing family documents
>
>
>
> On Nov 7, 2007, at 8:17 AM, Tony Farthing wrote:
>
> > I've acquired some Chloromine T to deal with some mild staining and
> > darkening of a few family documents, and was wondering what
> > dilution ratio
>
> I use 2 teaspoons of Chloramine T per one cup water. Use warm water,
> stir in the Chloramine T. Get your document good and soaked in the
> wash tray, then pour off as much of the solution as you can. Let it
> air dry. If it is still stained, repeat the process. When it is
> sufficiently cleaned, soak the document in warm water for 10 minutes
> or so. Pour off and let air dry.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Steve

******************************

William Minter Bookbinding & Conservation, Inc.
4364 Woodbury Pike
Woodbury, PA  16695
814-793-4020
Fax:   814-793-4045
Email:    wminter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx




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