Tracing paper

Kupias Riikka <riikka.kupias<-at->turku<.>fi> writes

>I would be interested in hearing your experiences of conserving
>tracing paper, i.e. drawings.  Which methods and materials you have
>found as the best for mending tears and filling losses of these
>transparent and fragile items?  How about straightening?

I have used passive humidification and blotter stack flattening for
rolled, folded and creased tracing paper.  For mending and fills
I've had the most success with very thin remoistenable tissue,
usually Tengujo with 50/50 wheat starch paste and methylcellulose or
just methylcellulose, reactivated with as little moisture as I can
get away with because the tracing paper cockles so quickly.  I once
tried a remoistenable tissue that could be reactivated with ethanol,
but it didn't stick well enough.

Melina Avery
Conservator
The University of Chicago Library
1100 E. 57th Street
Chicago IL 60637


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:45
                  Distributed: Sunday, April 26, 2015
                       Message Id: cdl-28-45-003
                                  ***