Ma'am, as an emergency measure, I've used tissue paper from a box of dry facial tissues like "Twinsaver" in South Africa or "Kleenex" in Australia. After separating the plies and tearing it to feather the edges, it is very thin. I apply the glue to the page, then put the tissue on both sides and blend it into the page. It provides enough "base" for strength along the tear. I then prop the page up with weights on both sides so it is vertical and let it dry naturally. I did this without knowing how to repair torn book pages. It worked. 😊
That is a good idea! One can also use PVA instead of paste, although that will give a more "plastic" look and won't be reversible. But at least it's better than tape!
Hi, Newbie here.....You mentioned the grain direction of the tissue paper, but you didn't relate which direction to orient it. From a structural point of view I would assume that you would want the grain 90 degrees to the tear for strength. But I could imagine where it could cause wrinkles or something unforeseen. Related to that I can never remember which direction it is customary for the page grain to run either. Could you elaborate? Thanks
Hello! Thanks for your videos, they are so helpful! Quick question: If you use tissue paper to repair a tear, can you use it over a printed page? Will the print show through?
I am trying to repair a book with no cover in which the front and back pages have partially torn away from the binding (the spine of the book) and I am worried tissue may not be strong enough to withstand being bent every time the book is opened or closed, would thin white paper be an acceptable substitute?
Thank you for this. I am curious about the difference between using regular tissue paper vs Japanese tissue paper when the pasting is over printed words.
Hello Macrina, I have a tricky repair job to do. On two pages of a recently acquired reference manual, the previous owner has stuck tabs on the pages. Through use, the stress of thumbing the tabs has torn the paper, above the tabs. I can't repair the torn pages first, because the tab is in the way. I usually try to find out what the solvent of the adhesive is, but this isn't an option in this case. My only course of action is to see if mild heat from a hair drier may soften the adhesive so I can peel the tabs off. My only concern is, cockling of the paper, due to the heat. I will take steps to protect the surrounding paper. I have cut the tabs off and just left the adhesive parts behind, so as to remove the weight off the torn paper.
Those tabs are one of my worst thing when repairing books, especially when people have pasted tape over them! I don't really have enough background in conservation to give you expert advice, although I think that trying heat is a good idea. Another option would be to use Acetone on the back of the tab to loosen the glue, but that may not be possible if the tab is on both the back and the front of the page.
@@AnnesiBindings I could not wait to get it assessed. To me, torn pages are the book equivalent of a hang nail. The longer it was left the more chance there was of it tearing more. So, experimented on the first two pages that weren't torn. I heated up the tabs and carefully got the peeling started with a sharp knife on the corner of the adhesive. It lifted away leaving a sticky residue. To neutralise that, I used talcum powder and rubbed that over it. After getting the technique right, I started on the torn pages. Everything went well, until the last page. My finger stuck to the hot adhesive residue, as I pulled my finger off, the page tore further. 🤬 I ended up gluing the tears on both pages. They are slightly cockled, but that should improve, once I have removed the rest of the adhesive backing that is left. That another job in itself, for another time.
Ma'am, as an emergency measure, I've used tissue paper from a box of dry facial tissues like "Twinsaver" in South Africa or "Kleenex" in Australia. After separating the plies and tearing it to feather the edges, it is very thin. I apply the glue to the page, then put the tissue on both sides and blend it into the page. It provides enough "base" for strength along the tear. I then prop the page up with weights on both sides so it is vertical and let it dry naturally. I did this without knowing how to repair torn book pages. It worked. 😊
That is a good idea! One can also use PVA instead of paste, although that will give a more "plastic" look and won't be reversible. But at least it's better than tape!
Thanks for taking time sharing your knowledge.
You're welcome and I'm glad it was helpful.
Hi, Newbie here.....You mentioned the grain direction of the tissue paper, but you didn't relate which direction to orient it. From a structural point of view I would assume that you would want the grain 90 degrees to the tear for strength. But I could imagine where it could cause wrinkles or something unforeseen. Related to that I can never remember which direction it is customary for the page grain to run either. Could you elaborate? Thanks
This was very helpful and interesting and I really enjoy having a sit down with my tea and just relax while watching your videos. Thank you!
Very helpful video, than you. I have also used coffee filters in the past for mending torn, non-archival paper as well as torn amplifier speakers.
I repaired a book from the early 1900s for my bf a while back. Wish I saw this before I did since I mostly just used art glue
Thank you for sharing. Good work!
Hello! Thanks for your videos, they are so helpful! Quick question: If you use tissue paper to repair a tear, can you use it over a printed page? Will the print show through?
I am muslim and this video helps me to mend my Quraan, thank you.
I am trying to repair a book with no cover in which the front and back pages have partially torn away from the binding (the spine of the book) and I am worried tissue may not be strong enough to withstand being bent every time the book is opened or closed, would thin white paper be an acceptable substitute?
Thank you for this. I am curious about the difference between using regular tissue paper vs Japanese tissue paper when the pasting is over printed words.
You're welcome! That is an interesting question and I can't remember if I tried it over words. Will try to remember to do so!
Hi. Normal tissue paper has a waxed side. Which side do you put down on the tear? The waxed or unwaxed side.
Hello Macrina, I have a tricky repair job to do. On two pages of a recently acquired reference manual, the previous owner has stuck tabs on the pages. Through use, the stress of thumbing the tabs has torn the paper, above the tabs. I can't repair the torn pages first, because the tab is in the way.
I usually try to find out what the solvent of the adhesive is, but this isn't an option in this case. My only course of action is to see if mild heat from a hair drier may soften the adhesive so I can peel the tabs off. My only concern is, cockling of the paper, due to the heat. I will take steps to protect the surrounding paper.
I have cut the tabs off and just left the adhesive parts behind, so as to remove the weight off the torn paper.
Those tabs are one of my worst thing when repairing books, especially when people have pasted tape over them! I don't really have enough background in conservation to give you expert advice, although I think that trying heat is a good idea. Another option would be to use Acetone on the back of the tab to loosen the glue, but that may not be possible if the tab is on both the back and the front of the page.
@@AnnesiBindings I could not wait to get it assessed. To me, torn pages are the book equivalent of a hang nail. The longer it was left the more chance there was of it tearing more. So, experimented on the first two pages that weren't torn. I heated up the tabs and carefully got the peeling started with a sharp knife on the corner of the adhesive. It lifted away leaving a sticky residue. To neutralise that, I used talcum powder and rubbed that over it. After getting the technique right, I started on the torn pages. Everything went well, until the last page. My finger stuck to the hot adhesive residue, as I pulled my finger off, the page tore further. 🤬 I ended up gluing the tears on both pages. They are slightly cockled, but that should improve, once I have removed the rest of the adhesive backing that is left. That another job in itself, for another time.
I'll try to repair my japanese screen.