stormflora Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 On 3/5/2024 at 2:11 PM, Mr. Zipper said: You'd probably get better answers if "moisture" was more defined. Moisture can be light cockling to musty smelling to rusty staples to "was once waterlogged." A little light cockling can easily be pressed out and minor musty smell can be removed... the books may turn out great. Once you get to the point where there is rust or mildew, I'd avoid. Very great answer. Rust isn't nearly as serious as mold/mildew though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strange Trip Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 I have a couple of books from my childhood collection that were water damaged when the local comic shop flooded. I bought them for a dollar each in the fire sale that followed. I was in grade school but was smart enough to make sure they were completely dry before bagging. They both are warped, but no stained pages or mildew and the colors inside and out are vibrant 40 years later. BA773 and crazyhips 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan_W Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 On 3/5/2024 at 12:14 PM, stormflora said: I'm just saying that there are worse things a comic can experience than some water, which you can heat press to desiccate and smooth out. Sure, might lead to some rust on the staples and weaker fibers, but the comic's still going to outlive you anyway. And, FWIW, virtually every single presser out there moisturizes your comic with at least distilled water before pressing, if it is not Modern Age or perhaps Bronze Age. So that's technically "water damage" already. Since the process where some moisture used to aid the pressing process is controlled and does not damage the book I would not put it into the category of "water damage." Outside of a vague "wet stuff" similarity, pressing comics and causing damage by spilling things on them, etc, are pretty much entirely different things. newshane, stormflora and BA773 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockMyAmadeus Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 On 3/5/2024 at 8:29 AM, newshane said: On 3/5/2024 at 8:05 AM, stormflora said: Moisturization can be very easily pressed out. What in the Sam Hill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poutine Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ganni Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 From a cold air condition indoor grading facility and out to ship in a warm environment... condensation happens. And when condensation happens. What do you get? Moisture. Especially things in an enclosed plastic casing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newshane Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 (edited) On 3/5/2024 at 11:14 AM, stormflora said: I'm just saying that there are worse things a comic can experience than some water, which you can heat press to desiccate and smooth out. Sure, might lead to some rust on the staples and weaker fibers, but the comic's still going to outlive you anyway. And, FWIW, virtually every single presser out there moisturizes your comic with at least distilled water before pressing, if it is not Modern Age or perhaps Bronze Age. So that's technically "water damage" already. This isn't even close to being the same thing. You cannot "heat press [a comic that's been exposed to water] to desiccate and smooth [it] out." Please. Stop spreading misinformation. EDIT: I guess you could heat press a soaked comic...enjoy the completely fused interior. Edited March 5 by newshane BA773 and Poutine 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post newshane Posted March 5 Popular Post Share Posted March 5 (edited) On 3/5/2024 at 11:08 AM, Sigur Ros said: Maybe it's just me, but I would say fire is WAY worse than water... for paper products. Oh, I agree. Here are the biggest threats to your comics...maybe ranked...maybe not? 1. A vindictive ex-wife or girlfriend who knows to hit where it hurts the most. 2. A toddler with a crayon and oppositional defiant disorder. 3. Fire 4. Paper shredder 5. Water 6. Mold 7. A bored dog. 8. Classic Collectible Services 9. The CGC receiving department...eh...make that ANY department 10. Earwigs 11. People who think you can press out moisture damage. Edited March 5 by newshane D84, Point Five, Poutine and 4 others 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newshane Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 EDIT - it really depends on the amount of moisture damage. Once you see "tide lines" it's game over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockMyAmadeus Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 On 3/5/2024 at 3:15 PM, newshane said: 8. Classic Collectible Services 9. The CGC receiving department...eh...make that ANY department Poutine and awakeintheashes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awakeintheashes Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/5/2024 at 4:24 PM, Poutine said: onlyweaknesskryptonite and Poutine 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pemart1966 Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/5/2024 at 11:17 AM, CAHokie said: I thought comic cleaning involved dipping them in the tub with soap and quickly bagging them. No - you have to hang them on the clothesline first so that they can dry. Never bag a wet comic! CAHokie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAHokie Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/5/2024 at 10:20 PM, pemart1966 said: No - you have to hang them on the clothesline first so that they can dry. Never bag a wet comic! But I wanted to lock in that new clean comic smell… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D84 Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 (edited) On 3/5/2024 at 10:28 AM, newshane said: Avoid moisture and mold at all costs. Hard to think of a worse exposure...maybe fire or insects? Poop stains. Yes, I found some in a book once. It's no longer in my collection. There's also pages sticking together for "other" reasons. This mostly happens with 90s bad girl comics. Edited March 6 by D84 stormflora 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyweaknesskryptonite Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/5/2024 at 9:43 PM, D84 said: Poop stains. Yes, I found some in a book once. It's no longer in my collection. There's also pages sticking together for "other" reasons. This mostly happens with 90s bad girl comics. The fecal bandit strike again! And the good ol' sticky pages pedigree. Most notably found in old Playboys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyweaknesskryptonite Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/5/2024 at 10:28 AM, newshane said: Hard to think of a worse exposure...maybe fire or insects? Stefan_W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadzukes Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 On 3/6/2024 at 9:57 AM, onlyweaknesskryptonite said: Truthfully, this collection turned out to be an amazing "high grade" find, after I transferred all the comics to new bags and boards. I had 1 or 2 rally gross days of switching everything out. onlyweaknesskryptonite 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...