leafcasting
A system by which archival papers can be repaired
by mechanical means rather than manually. The
principal of the method is similar to that of
papermaking itself: paper pulp in a water
suspension is pulled through areas of loss in a
document so as to fill the lacunae with freshly
cast paper. Varying combinations of fibers are
mixed in amounts proportionate to the missing
areas in the leaf to be repaired, and gravity or
vacuum pressure pulls the paper slurry through the
leaf to be repaired as it lies on a mesh support
in the leafcaster. The new fibers settle only in
the areas of loss.
For certain kinds of materials. particularly those
of large format, e.g., newspapers and maps,
leafcasting is a much more efficient and
economical method of repair than the traditional
manual methods. Its use can also strengthen the
entire leaf, as leafcasting not only fills in the
holes but also fills cracks, joins fragments,
repairs margins and may also be used to provide
linings. In contrast to hand repairs, these
procedures have the additional advantage of
requiring little or no use of adhesives.
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