How do you preserve a build sheet?

[Calvin C.]

I was changing my tank on my 72 and the build sheet came off. The sheet is intact and you can read 95% of the information. It is however very very brittle. It is in plastic in a book at present. Does anyone know if there is a way to preserve it. If it stays in the plastitic and is handed at all it will break up. Is there something such as a clear coating or something to spray on it to keep it together.

cal

[Calvin C.]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

I have my 69 build sheet in a baggie, it is confetti, it was dust when the tank was removed. But I still have it.
cal

[Ken A.]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

When I pulled mine off of my 69 back in 1980, I bought a sort of laminate kit where the 2 pieces of vinyl(or whatever) had some sort of adhesive that stuck together once you put your piece inbetween. Sort of wish I hadn't done that, as I think the vinyl is starting to turn yellow, although it is always in a file cabinet, and the build sheet is getting harder to read. I think if I were to do it over, I would use acid free paper like they use in framing a picture, and somehow seal it. I'm sure someone knows the best way.
Ken

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

Not all plastic is created equal, meaning, many of todays plastics are NOT acid free. Acid will destroy paper over time.

A solution, take the tank sticker to a local framer, ask for acid free paper and acid free mounting tabs (they just touch the corners). The framer will understand what you want/need. Have it mounted in a frame for hanging, a small display where the paper does not touch the glass. Ensure you get a color scan and print several copies prior to framing. Glue a scanned copy on the new tank.

Just my 2 cents

Harry

[Edward M.]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

Check out the excellent article written many years ago by Barbara Spear on this subject. Link should get you there.




http://www.yankeelady.com/library/non-fiction/gass

[Robert E.]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

I have mine sandwiched between 2 pieces of glass, mounted on a frame. It is proudly hanging on my basement wall.

Robert

[Patrick T.]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

Here is my tank sticker. I put it in a flat pan in the sink and slowly ran the cold water into the pan until it overflowed. I let it overflow for about a half hour, that way the dust and dirt was gently washed off the sticker. Then I laid it on the counter on a paper towel and let it air dry flat for 24 hours, in low humidity. I had an acid neutralizer hooked up to my water system and I measured the PH which was 8.3, or an akaline condition.

After it was dry, I encased it in two pieces of lexan (plexiglass) and sealed the edges with clear silicone. Now it's flat, in an airtight container, won't get bent or creased and it still looks beautiful after 5 years. PT

[Terry M.]

Re: How do you preserve a build sheet?

However you preserve it, and there are some excellent suggestions here and in Ms. Spears articles (please read all three articles), do not display it. Any light will accelerate deterioration of the paper and ink.
By all means take a digital scan or photograph of it. The electronic image is likely to last longer than the actual item. The challenge with electronic images is to maintain the ability to look at and print the file. As technology advances the older files become as useless as dodo birds unless one updates the files as ones computer changes.

[Clem Z.]

i though you boiled it in tea leaves, opps

that is to age the tank sticker,i got confused.