Step 2: Spine Cleaning. Antique Leather Book Conservation & Repair.

Explore the steps I take to clean and prepare the spine of this 1880s heirloom book. These steps are necessary for a successful relining process, which you’ll see in the next video.

"Antique Leather Book Conservation & Repair. Step 2: Spine Cleaning" is video 2 in this series on the restoration and repair of this volume.

Kathryn Wright is the owner/conservator of Southern Book & Paper Conservation, LLC, a private practice lab in Macon, Georgia: https://www.southernbnp.com/

0:00 intro
0:46 delaminating paper
5:44 poulticing and removing paper
11:15 lifting original cloth lining
12:35 poulticing and removing hide glue

🛠TOOLS & MATERIALS🛠
I am an eBay partner and therefore The Lab earns a commission on purchases made from the eBay links below (each time the link is clicked, there is a 24 hour commission window).

This commission expense is not passed to you - your price remains the same.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


ARCHIVAL STORAGE
4-flap enclosure: https://tinyurl.com/rvdjhss6 (Gaylord site)

Polyester L-sleeves for photos & documents: https://geni.us/mZbn (Amazon). If you have a water incident and these get wet, carefully cut the two sealed sides and remove the top piece of poly so the item can have a opportunity to dry - otherwise it will mold extensively in the plastic

Boxes, various sizes: https://geni.us/dmN3h (Amazon)

Folders, A4 and legal available: https://amzn.to/3gZgmqY (Amazon)

Cotton tying tape for weak or detached book boards and covers: https://geni.us/l5f5U (Amazon).


SMALL BENCH TOOLS
Teflon Bone Folder Set: https://geni.us/NmPNb (Amazon)

Gingher 8" shears: https://geni.us/d694 (Amazon)

Iris scissors: I have the curved pair. https://geni.us/dxmMWT (Amazon)

Olfa Silver knife with refill blades (Art Blade, 30 deg): allows for more precise cuts than the original Olfa Silver. https://geni.us/nXN5itG (Amazon)

Starrett 12" ruler: https://geni.us/dTZoy (Amazon)

Starrett 3" dividers: https://geni.us/Ec4A (Amazon)

Glue brushes: https://geni.us/WfLaVXX (Amazon)

EQUIPMENT
I got pretty much all of my equipment used on eBay, and I’ve been happy with everything.

Paper cutter (Kutrimmer): https://ebay.us/BkjrJk

Nipping press. My dimensions: 10”x13” bed/2.75” of daylight: https://ebay.us/LLT3KZ

Laying/finishing press: I actually prefer a machinist’s press (a 6” Kurt) https://ebay.us/PQnDZq

Traditional wooden finishing press: https://ebay.us/XYSMbk

Lectrojog: https://ebay.us/CDfyxd

Tormek SuperGrind 2000: https://ebay.us/zHt0Uc


MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
The go-to company for conservation supplies in the US is Talas: https://www.talasonline.com/.
If you’re a hobbyist bookbinder, book artist, and/or practicing by conserving discard books, I’ll include links below to Amazon, and other vendors who provide materials that are perfect for those pursuits.

Japanese long fiber paper from Hiromi Paper.

Tengujo: https://tinyurl.com/4yrepkx8

Senka-shi Thick: https://tinyurl.com/7za85uu2

Leather: https://www.pergamena.net/

Marbled and Decorative Papers: https://hollanders.com/

Book cloth: https://hollanders.com/search?q=cialux

Text and cover weight papers: I usually use Mohawk papers. https://www.thepapermillstore.com/

Smaller Mohawk sizes: https://geni.us/tvS8VM (Amazon)

PVA: https://geni.us/uc8J (Amazon)

Wheat Starch Paste: https://geni.us/Mcdq (Amazon)

Klucel-G leather consolidant: https://geni.us/CAswqOY (Amazon)

Isopropyl alcohol (99.9% pure): https://geni.us/Y2vKHbD (Amazon)

Methyl Cellulose: https://geni.us/xXw8 (Amazon)
Vulcanized Rubber Sponges: https://geni.us/WNcTDa
Methyl Cellulose: https://geni.us/xXw8 (Amazon)

Vulcanized Rubber Sponges: https://geni.us/WNcTDa



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