Deacidification Spray? - Museum Professional Forums, News, Jobs, Articles, Books

lindsey · 12-29-2008, 10:26 PM

Has anyone used a deacidification spray on paper items?

We just received a donation of some 1965 newspapers that are in good shape, but they came with a check to cover the cost of conserving them. Honestly, they don't need conservation, at least not a big, official conservation job. But, they definitely need the proper storage environment, and if I can deacidify them, that would be great. But before I go ahead and spray them I wanted to ask you for advice.

Thanks!

StephGaub · 12-30-2008, 12:32 AM

Since you've received a check for conservation you might also want to purchase extra acid-free paper or tissue to interleave between the newspaper pages.

I've tried to use deacidification spray in the past, but was unable to get it to spray out of the canister properly. I would also be interested in hearing people's success (or non-success) stories.

Oh, and congrats on getting in a donation that came with funds to care for it!!! BRAVO!!! I wish there were more donors like that out there.

lindsey · 12-30-2008, 07:05 PM

Thanks, Steph!

Yeah, I've never been too agile with a spray can, but my predecessor used the spray so we have some here... Since you said you had some problems getting to to spray easily, I wonder--could you tell? The spray doesn't affect the color or texture of the paper, does it? I have no idea how this spray works--is it just some sort of alkaline? Hmmm...I need to look into it more.

StephGaub · 12-30-2008, 11:03 PM

Hey Lindsey,

Well, it came out in spurts and I could see that it didn't cover the document evenly. The good news is that once it dried there was no difference in color between the areas that were treated and those that were untreated. I think that my nozzle was clogged, but I tried about 3 different bottles with the same end result. Maybe there's some magic touch to it

Good luck and let us know how it works. I would try it out on regular paper or your daily newspaper first. You know... just in case

saralu · 03-27-2009, 06:17 PM

You also really need a TON of the stuff. I can remember using nearly a whole bottle for one newspaper.
I'd look into other options - perhaps partial encapsulation or tissue interleaving?

12-29-2008, 10:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
lindsey New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 18	Deacidification Spray? Has anyone used a deacidification spray on paper items? We just received a donation of some 1965 newspapers that are in good shape, but they came with a check to cover the cost of conserving them. Honestly, they don't need conservation, at least not a big, official conservation job. But, they definitely need the proper storage environment, and if I can deacidify them, that would be great. But before I go ahead and spray them I wanted to ask you for advice. Thanks!

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12-30-2008, 12:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
StephGaub New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 261	Since you've received a check for conservation you might also want to purchase extra acid-free paper or tissue to interleave between the newspaper pages. I've tried to use deacidification spray in the past, but was unable to get it to spray out of the canister properly. I would also be interested in hearing people's success (or non-success) stories. Oh, and congrats on getting in a donation that came with funds to care for it!!! BRAVO!!! I wish there were more donors like that out there.

12-30-2008, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
lindsey New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 18	Thanks, Steph! Yeah, I've never been too agile with a spray can, but my predecessor used the spray so we have some here... Since you said you had some problems getting to to spray easily, I wonder--could you tell? The spray doesn't affect the color or texture of the paper, does it? I have no idea how this spray works--is it just some sort of alkaline? Hmmm...I need to look into it more.

12-30-2008, 11:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
StephGaub New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 261	Hey Lindsey, Well, it came out in spurts and I could see that it didn't cover the document evenly. The good news is that once it dried there was no difference in color between the areas that were treated and those that were untreated. I think that my nozzle was clogged, but I tried about 3 different bottles with the same end result. Maybe there's some magic touch to it Good luck and let us know how it works. I would try it out on regular paper or your daily newspaper first. You know... just in case

03-27-2009, 06:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
saralu New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	You also really need a TON of the stuff. I can remember using nearly a whole bottle for one newspaper. I'd look into other options - perhaps partial encapsulation or tissue interleaving?