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Wet Work - Washing, Deacidification & Bleaching

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  • Any recommendations for best blotters to use for best results?
  • Bleached my first piece today. Overall a B-. The black spots disappeared, the whites went from yellow to white, and overall pleased. The reds did fade and will need touch up once completed.
  • Duke said:
    Bleached my first piece today. Overall a B-. The black spots disappeared, the whites went from yellow to white, and overall pleased. The reds did fade and will need touch up once completed.
    Some before & after pics would be nice to see. 
  • After only
  • This poster was full of tape on the back and almost completely brown stains.
  • Attached is a poster in good shape but has brown at the folds. I do not want to bleach, any suggestions on how to get them out? Will just a wash in warm water work? It was suggested to use ammonia in a video, any suggestions are welcome.
  • What size poster is that? A one sheet? It’s going to be fun to piece it together after it’s washed and needs to be laid down. The best I’ve done is three pieces for a daybill and it was a really difficult wash and piecing together. You think after you lay them down/glue to the masa paper when they’re wet and, hey! The lines all lineup! Then it begins to dry over the next 2-3-4 days and I’m like whoops! Not all in alignment anymore! 

    Use cal hypo to bleach the stains out, some toning will come out during a deacidification bathe but not all. 
  • It is a one sheet.
  • Had a great wash, distilled water, and blotter dried, yet still has a few wrinkles? Will these come out when rolled onto masa paper? What went wrong?

  • How is it avoided in the future?
  • My first attempt on a one sheet came out flat compared to my second attempt, I am stumped?

  • Could it be the black ink?
  • If you didn’t back the poster, a few wrinkles is a miracle. Most backers go straight from damp to backing.
  • You don’t wash, and let dry before backing?
  • I guess I was lucky, I missed the step of washing then mounting to masa.
  • Duke said:
    You don’t wash, and let dry before backing?
    It is an interesting variation for conisderation. At least you would get to see if you made an impact on appearance.

    Re: when I was backing.... I would only let dry if I simply had no energy left or was out of stretched canvas. You don't want to go full on wet but I would squeegee out the water (between the mylars) and then pat with paper towls; then start applying the wheat paste.

    I would install masa on canvas and have those ready but you would still need to dampen before applying so the paper doesn't suck all the moisture from the wheat paste.

    <<Caution>> You may want to remember this when you go to back a dry poster. If you put wheat paste straight on dry paper it will suck the water out of the mixture and gum up on you. This can result in weak adhesion and or no ability to reposition the poster... 
  • That makes sense. I will heavily mist. To your first point I was able to see that I reduced the browning or aging along the fold lines, and the fold lines were not as pronounced. Do you let the masa dry before adding poster?
  • Duke said:
    That makes sense. I will heavily mist. To your first point I was able to see that I reduced the browning or aging along the fold lines, and the fold lines were not as pronounced. Do you let the masa dry before adding poster?
    Optional I've done it both ways. It was easier to have it all ready to go. I also think Mark/Dario recommend the masa drying first.
  • What is recommended chemicals for bleaching?
  • Check the first page of the thread… It is all here my man.
  • Sorry, I have read the threads many times and get lost.at times.
  • Charlie said:
    Check the first page of the thread… It is all here my man.

  • What chemical do you use for the acidic acid?
  • Destilled Vinegar...  Unless you want to go chemical grade.  You would end up dilluting it down anyway.
  • Do people remove tape with poster dry or wet, or just use Bestine to remove tape and residue just where the tape is? Please send best practice info.

  • If it is water based, then during wash. If it solvent based then dry with Bestine or lighter fluid.
  • That worked. Thanks 
    Does anyone have a formula for the calcium hydroxide for a 1 sheet?
  • Duke, it’s all online. This site answers all the questions you’ll need to restore paper. I printed so many chapters and read. Charlie certainly clarified and helped a great deal, but you’ll get a much more broad view of other techniques available. 



  • This screen shot took me 3 mins to find. 


  • Very helpful 
    thank you
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