Un-creasing and Un-folding paper

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Un-creasing and Un-folding paper

1dotman
Sep 3, 2022, 12:19 pm

Greetings - longtime lurker here & firstly would like to thank the forum for many hours of valuable input I've received on the collection & restoration of rare books. I've apparently run into an issue where the search function doesn't seem to yield many results.

I was recently attempting to remove some light pencil marks on the front end paper of a Doves Press title and accidentally sent the page flying into my finger, thereby causing a ~2 inch crease to the corner of the page. Obviously not a huge ordeal, but given the fine condition of the copy, and the fact that the paper is one of the highlights of this particular publication, I'm wondering if there's any way to try and reduce the effect of this crease?

It's been sitting bound tightly in it's accompanying slipcase for about a week, and while materially the crease has "gone flat" - its still obvious on the page that it was bent.

Is there any way to further reduce the appearance here or shall I just accept the imperfection as part of life's journey and move on with it all? I've read about potentially taking an iron with/without steam using cloth layers to the page, but am a bit scared given the scarcity and value of the book.

Thanks so much -

Paul

2maisiedotes
Sep 3, 2022, 2:51 pm

>1 dotman: Ouch. I know how it hurts when you're trying to improve something but end up losing in another department.

I've had a lot of success with a "curvy" bone folder like the one linked here: https://www.amazon.com/Burnishing-Crafting-Scrapbooking-Bookbinding-Supplies/dp/....

Depending on the paper, the crease will either disappear or merely become less prominent, but almost always you will see an improvement.

Take into consideration that I am a newbie and have no formal training. I tried looking on Talas for a curvy bone folder, but didn't find one, hence the $4 recommendation from Amazon.

3terebinth
Modifié : Sep 3, 2022, 3:30 pm

>1 dotman:

I've used an iron now and again - no steam and no intermediate layer of anything - on dog-earing or crumpled newsprint, nothing of much importance, and found it pretty effective. I think in your situation I'd try to find a fairly comparable grade of paper as loose sheets or in a much less precious book, and experiment as to how to iron out either creases you put in the paper or defects the book already has - or, if it's really an unwanted volume, give it a couple of new ones. If and when you're confident, do the job.

4kdweber
Sep 3, 2022, 8:49 pm

>2 maisiedotes:. Don’t know about needing a curvy bone folder but Talas sells folders that are rounded on both ends and folders with one pointy end for between $5 and $10. I have one of each and use them all the time. For what it’s worth, the linked Amazon examples are made from plastic while the Talas bone folders are actually made from bone.

5maisiedotes
Sep 4, 2022, 1:05 am

>4 kdweber: I'm sure you're right about not necessarily needing a curvy vs. a rounded bone folder.

Do the real bone ones feel luxuriously better? I only have plastic ones. Should I invest in the real deal?

I probably don't have proper bone folder technique. I certainly don't have proper self-healing-mat technique. (The lines confuse me.)

6dotman
Sep 4, 2022, 8:30 am

Thanks so much for the replies.. very instructive indeed. I’ll definitely be ordering a bone folder and perhaps attempting some ironing on a few practice sheets. Really appreciate the wisdom shared -

7Glacierman
Sep 5, 2022, 2:38 am

Something I did some years back to remove a crease in some high quality mould made paper (in a book) was to VERY LIGHTLY dampen the crease with a damp cloth and then insert a sheet of wax paper (or silicone release paper) above and below it. I then closed the book and placed it under light pressure for a week. I used a book press, but you could also use a heavy book. The trick is light pressure, enough to keep the pages flat while the dampened one dries. Worked quite well. Also works to remove dents in thick paper or leather.

8manatree
Sep 5, 2022, 10:46 pm

>2 maisiedotes: The Germans have a word for that. Verschlimmbessern, which combines verschlimmern (to make something worse) and verbessern (to make something better).

9maisiedotes
Sep 5, 2022, 10:57 pm

>8 manatree: What a great word, and not even that long for a German one!

I entered verschlimmbessern into google translate and got "disimprove."

I don't know about verschlimbessern, but I suspect that "disimprove" is akin to "chairness" or "tableness" or "oranging." You'll find the word defined on the internet but you'd be hard-pressed to use it in real life.