The products I use to clean and press are listed on my website at improvecollecting.com/recommended-comic-book-collecting-supplies/ Be sure to sign up for my newsletter while you are there! I am developing tools to make collecting better and will be announcing it to my email subscribers in the future.
I know u are humble but you are killing the clean,press and submission game.. especially from how u started with that recommended presser from your early days
I definitely recommend it. I have been at it every day now for months, and look forward to it just as much each and every day. I had withdrawals on my last vacation lol
great video. interested in the technique of the use of the ball bearing (circles? across the bend or with the bend?) as well as the tack iron on the spine ticks; it looks like the spine is hanging off the table a bit and the spine is slightly curved over as you work the ticks with the iron. congratulations on the 9.8 and tangible proof of the effectiveness of your efforts
Hi, glad you liked the video! Yes, I hand the spine off slightly.. this is just personal preference, I find that having it like that kind of makes it like a shock absorber, so that I don't put too much pressure. I haven't had any issues with bending the spine or causing an impression underneath. I apply very little pressure anyway, its more about time, heat, and technique than how hard to push
Loved this video. Thanks for posting. My question has to do with the "misting" process you mentioned. When you say you hit it with some water, what does that look like? Are you using a hand steamer? Bonus question: I didn't recognize the pencil/brush you were using in the beginning. What is that?
Most of the stuff I use is off KaptainMyke's list here. www.kaptainmyke.com/products/ The mister bottles spray a fine mist on the book, then I wipe off the excess. I tried a hand steamer, but prefer misting now. Here is the Amazon link to the pencil eraser: amzn.to/3CMidJP
Impressive and educational, thanks for sharing! When you're working on spine ticks, what do you place under the cover, and do you ever use spot moisture along with the tack iron?
I put a chamfered board sold by Immaculate Comics: immaculatecomics.com/shop/chamfered-pressing-board/ I do add a tiny bit of distilled water to the bigger ticks, or stubborn ones, right before I hit them with heat. Sometimes the ticks relax just with the moisture.. I know those will be easy to get out.
@@ImproveCollectingComics Thank you so much. I’ve ordered two of his books because I remember you mentioning him. Can’t wait to study them. I truly appreciate you answering me back.
I just pulled a 423 out of the press yesterday, so good timing on the comment. I really wish I could do other people's books! Unfortunately, it would probably ruin the hobby for me.
I don't measure anything.. medium light resistance. If there is any kind of staple impression on the backing boards when you are done, it was too much pressure. It's better to be too light than too much pressure. It's the heat that does most of the work, not really intense pressure.
I definitely have to second these comments about you making me want to buy a press and do this myself lol. Love the videos, and love all the success you’re having! If you ever change your mind about not wanting to do if for money let us know 😉 😂
You should! If you are a patient type of person, it's a blast! And I don't think I'll ever change my mind, it would probably ruin it for me.. I want a hobby, not another job 😂
No, but I am working on a series for that right now. In fact, I am mailing off the first 5 books in the next day or two. I had to clean up a big MESS. He did permanent damage tosome of the books that I wasn't able to 100% fix :(
What tool and model are you using for the heat after the first press? I find an actual tack iron to be too bulky, and I have yet to find something smaller and more precise. I appreciate it. Thank you for all your great content. And STOP UNDERPLAYING YOUR SKILLS. Haha (I laugh, but it is true)
@@ImproveCollectingComics Thank you! I will keep an out for one on ebay and other sites. It is considered an art tool or a soldering tool? I am watching Black Adam at the moment, and there is, literally, an art store and a hardware store across the parking lot. I am impatient! 🤣🤣🤣
I list all the products I use on my site at improvecollecting.com Yes, Aluminum is the way to go.. if you use any moisture you don't want rusting to start
I got tickled when you said what all you were about to do to this book as I imagined my wife in the other room overhearing the video. I'm going to clean it, hit it with a tack iron, and then a ball bearing. She would of been like, "What is he about to do?" I would have said, "He's going to torture that book into submission for a higher grade." LOL.
I go back and forth on this.. I think just washing our hands good is enough, but I have gotten used to gloves.. although it definitely slows me down quite a bit. Maybe that's a good thing, though?
The products I use to clean and press are listed on my website at improvecollecting.com/recommended-comic-book-collecting-supplies/
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter while you are there! I am developing tools to make collecting better and will be announcing it to my email subscribers in the future.
Please don’t stop making these before and after videos. Thanks the pressing steps and in the same video what you got back
And you taught yourself how to do this - amazing. Great video showing off the process and your work. And look at that grade!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Its simply amazing the way you can fix/clean a book to make it look how it originally was.
Thanks!
I know u are humble but you are killing the clean,press and submission game.. especially from how u started with that recommended presser from your early days
Thanks for the kind words, made my day!
Just gotta love all the positive comments. ❤️
Cleaning + Pressing has to be one of the coolest things in collecting. Hoping to start doing it myself sometime soon
I definitely recommend it. I have been at it every day now for months, and look forward to it just as much each and every day. I had withdrawals on my last vacation lol
Man, your cleaning and pressing game is amazing. Really nice work!
Thanks!
very impressed by your patience to clean and press this book.
Thank you!
You do good work on the cleaning and pressing. CGC must think so too! Congratulations on the grade.
Thank you!
Man I really love your dedication and enthusiasm to the hobby. Love it and congratulations 👏🎉
Thank you so much 👍
Thanks to your videos you’ve encouraged me to buy a press and start cleaning and pressing my books. So thank you for that.
Very cool, hope it's as much fun for you as it is for me!
great video. interested in the technique of the use of the ball bearing (circles? across the bend or with the bend?) as well as the tack iron on the spine ticks; it looks like the spine is hanging off the table a bit and the spine is slightly curved over as you work the ticks with the iron. congratulations on the 9.8 and tangible proof of the effectiveness of your efforts
Hi, glad you liked the video! Yes, I hand the spine off slightly.. this is just personal preference, I find that having it like that kind of makes it like a shock absorber, so that I don't put too much pressure. I haven't had any issues with bending the spine or causing an impression underneath. I apply very little pressure anyway, its more about time, heat, and technique than how hard to push
Incredible video. You most certainly earned that 9.8. Keep up the amazing work!
Thanks!
Absolutely beautiful 😍 Fantastic work. Love this video alot
Many many thanks
You have some great skills my friend. Keep up the great work! 🤘💥
Thanks!
Great vid, I enjoyed watching the process.
Glad to hear it! Thanks!
Loved this video. Thanks for posting. My question has to do with the "misting" process you mentioned. When you say you hit it with some water, what does that look like? Are you using a hand steamer? Bonus question: I didn't recognize the pencil/brush you were using in the beginning. What is that?
Most of the stuff I use is off KaptainMyke's list here. www.kaptainmyke.com/products/
The mister bottles spray a fine mist on the book, then I wipe off the excess. I tried a hand steamer, but prefer misting now.
Here is the Amazon link to the pencil eraser: amzn.to/3CMidJP
Impressive and educational, thanks for sharing! When you're working on spine ticks, what do you place under the cover, and do you ever use spot moisture along with the tack iron?
I put a chamfered board sold by Immaculate Comics: immaculatecomics.com/shop/chamfered-pressing-board/
I do add a tiny bit of distilled water to the bigger ticks, or stubborn ones, right before I hit them with heat. Sometimes the ticks relax just with the moisture.. I know those will be easy to get out.
Great job on this.
Thanks!
At 5:47 you use a tiny piece of paper that you wet to transfer a stain. Is it a piece of printer paper?
Yes, just regular printer paper. It's called the hotshot method, got it from KaptainMyke
@@ImproveCollectingComics Thank you so much. I’ve ordered two of his books because I remember you mentioning him. Can’t wait to study them. I truly appreciate you answering me back.
I want to send my Batman 423 to you for clean and press. Great attention to detail!
I just pulled a 423 out of the press yesterday, so good timing on the comment.
I really wish I could do other people's books! Unfortunately, it would probably ruin the hobby for me.
I would love to learn to clean and press love the video
You should, it's a blast!
So doing my first press but I don’t have a caliper to measure gap. It seems light to press down but firm.
I don't measure anything.. medium light resistance. If there is any kind of staple impression on the backing boards when you are done, it was too much pressure. It's better to be too light than too much pressure. It's the heat that does most of the work, not really intense pressure.
This was awesome. Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by!
I definitely have to second these comments about you making me want to buy a press and do this myself lol. Love the videos, and love all the success you’re having! If you ever change your mind about not wanting to do if for money let us know 😉 😂
You should! If you are a patient type of person, it's a blast! And I don't think I'll ever change my mind, it would probably ruin it for me.. I want a hobby, not another job 😂
Great job! I'm picking up pressing supplies, I have Kaptainmykes book.
Are you using steel or aluminum plates?
Thx!
I went with 12x15 aluminum, bought from Immaculate Comics: immaculatecomics.com/shop/aluminum-pressing-board/
Can you remove or whitening a little bits a comic book tanning ?
Yes you can definitely spot whiten, KaptainMyke covers it in his book
@@ImproveCollectingComics I will buy his book because i really want to do it myself
What lights do you use in your whitening process?
Here's the Amazon link to exactly what I bought: amzn.to/3TsZTfZ
@@ImproveCollectingComics Thank you.
you did an amazing job on this. Very impressed. Question: is this a book you submitted previously to the professional presser we have discussed?
No, but I am working on a series for that right now. In fact, I am mailing off the first 5 books in the next day or two. I had to clean up a big MESS. He did permanent damage tosome of the books that I wasn't able to 100% fix :(
What tool and model are you using for the heat after the first press? I find an actual tack iron to be too bulky, and I have yet to find something smaller and more precise. I appreciate it. Thank you for all your great content. And STOP UNDERPLAYING YOUR SKILLS. Haha (I laugh, but it is true)
Thanks for the kind words!
I got the Hangar 9 145 ProTrim Sealing Tool from E-Bay. I don't see it available right now, though
@@ImproveCollectingComics Thank you! I will keep an out for one on ebay and other sites. It is considered an art tool or a soldering tool? I am watching Black Adam at the moment, and there is, literally, an art store and a hardware store across the parking lot. I am impatient! 🤣🤣🤣
What size press is that? And are those aluminum plates?
I list all the products I use on my site at improvecollecting.com
Yes, Aluminum is the way to go.. if you use any moisture you don't want rusting to start
@@ImproveCollectingComics 1/16? My press is 10x12 trying to find that size a bit on a PIA lol
I got tickled when you said what all you were about to do to this book as I imagined my wife in the other room overhearing the video. I'm going to clean it, hit it with a tack iron, and then a ball bearing. She would of been like, "What is he about to do?" I would have said, "He's going to torture that book into submission for a higher grade." LOL.
LOL Yeah if you take a step back, some of the things we say in this hobby are so weird and could often be taken the wrong way!
Hello. Just subscribed to your channel. You have great informative content and you know your stuff. Thanks !
Awesome, thank you!
I used to wear gloves
Not any more to many things can happen that can damage the book
I go back and forth on this.. I think just washing our hands good is enough, but I have gotten used to gloves.. although it definitely slows me down quite a bit. Maybe that's a good thing, though?
Captain Mike?
Google "KaptainMyke"
👍👍👍
No temptation to send it to have Todd McFarlane to sign it ?
I'm not a big fan of signatures. I could see getting a slab signed, but I prefer to keep the books clean
@@ImproveCollectingComics Me i only do it to improve the value of the books. I am now at a stage where i have to sell my comic books.
This is not a definite thing everytime and anyone who says they do it all the time is FOS...
Indeed. I have been very lucky with this so far. I am ultra-selective in choosing books to try this with, though