?Inferno on Rubberslug

Drac of the Sharp Smiles · Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:12 pm

I have a lot of fears about this too.... and a collection MUCH TOO BIG to move anywhere quickly. In the past, I've considered making a few "grab first" cel books.... but I never have because I realized that there would be no point. God forbid, but if my house caught fire, my pets would be what I would grab first. First the ones that could be evacuated, then my efforts would go to spraying a hose through the windows into the room containing my fishtanks, just in case they could also be saved. I would be forever miserable to lose my cel collection, but the living things in the house would come first.

That said..... is there anyone here who has come up with any good ideas (short of a bank vault) for fire protection for cels? I've considered some other things, but most of what I can think of wouldn't keep out heat and the cels would melt anyhow.

Moop · Post by **Moop** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:47 pm

Drac of the Sharp Smiles wrote:That said..... is there anyone here who has come up with any good ideas (short of a bank vault) for fire protection for cels?

Fireproof safes come in any number of sizes and prices for home use - protective for up to two hours of intense heat, depending on the brand and model. I've often considered getting one, and this has certainly pushed me one step closer. I can only imagine how heartsick the poor gallery owners must feel. Family and pets come first, of course...but it would certainly help make the best of a terrible situation if, after them, the artwork were to make it out alive, too.

Cypress · Post by **Cypress** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:02 pm

My heart goes out to them. They must be absolutely sick about this. I'm sick for them.

I have a fireproof safe that I put my cels in for a brief time when I lived in an apartment. However, I quickly discovered that it isn't something that should be done for more than two days. It gets very humid inside fire safes and can damage cels and documents.

I don't know if they make humidity controlled fire safes though... I'll have to look in to it.

Belldandy16 · Post by **Belldandy16** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:01 pm

also dont forget water protection!
She said that alot of her paper items were damaged not by fire but by water from firefighters putting out the flames!

i was actually talking to her about this same issue and she just said to put insurance on all of your cels and when the ins pays, just to buy new cels.

honestly kiddies, i dont think there is any physical way of protecting them from this kind of threat ( short of getting them out yourself when a fire does break out). But me, id make sure my family would be out first (pets second if i had a pet), lastly our cars since theyre right next to my house under an awning. i probably wouldnt have time to save my cel books.

so you know what the best protection is?
prayer!
(no seriously!)
*insert cute little pink prayer buddy that Roboflonne has*
(i love those, where do you get those btw?

) lol

Moop · Post by **Moop** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:27 pm

Cypress wrote:I don't know if they make humidity controlled fire safes though...

They do. I wonder if a desiccant pack might be enough, though. Did you ever try using one in yours?

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:25 am

With fires there's the huge smoke damage problem.

I don't know what kind of art protection materials they have available today, but fifteen years ago they used to sell this stuff that supposedly tried to regulate the humidity levels of small enclosed areas. It was said to have kept the humidity within a certain range. It the humidty got too wet it would absorb moisture, but if it got too dry it would release moisture. You could "refresh" the material periodically, but putting it for a short time in an oven at low heat.

I got a large plastic container and was going to put some of my paper collectibles in it. The absorbing material came with a holder box. I bought a couple of humidity gauges, but never got around to testing it because my dad gave me his dehumidifier.

I decided to go with the dehumifier because the plastic containers would have taken up a LOT of space and because the humidity regulating material was a bit expensive.

Cypress · Post by **Cypress** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:08 am

Moop wrote:
Cypress wrote:I don't know if they make humidity controlled fire safes though...
They do. I wonder if a desiccant pack might be enough, though. Did you ever try using one in yours?

No, I didn't know you could buy those.

I suppose they could fix the problem in theory. Thanks for the tip!

logorzat · Post by **logorzat** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:13 am

OMG! All those beautiful Sailor Moon cels.

I can not even begin to imagine how upset she must be.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:28 pm

Belldandy16 wrote: so you know what the best protection is?
prayer!
(no seriously!)
*insert cute little pink prayer buddy that Roboflonne has*
(i love those, where do you get those btw? ) lol

http://www.anikaos.com/pink_usagi.html

Be sure to use prayer

Three times daily! Once when you wake up, Once during the day, and once when you go to sleep!

It protects you from fire, water, and all things evil!

p.s. also building your house out of Steel, Concrete, and non-flamable building materials also help!

Although it may feel like living in a jail.

Moop · Post by **Moop** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:26 pm

Cypress wrote:I suppose they could fix the problem in theory.

Yeah, but you also want to be sure that you don't suck too much moisture out, either.

As Keropi pointed out, you can use a humidity gauge to determine when you've got it right.

Belldandy16 · Post by **Belldandy16** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:22 pm

RoboFlonne wrote:
Belldandy16 wrote: *insert cute little pink prayer buddy that Roboflonne has*
(i love those, where do you get those btw? ) lol
http://www.anikaos.com/pink_usagi.html

SWEET! thanks!

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:13 pm

This is so sad....thank gdness half of their cels were not in that hse. The guy who caused the fire shd really compensate her for her loss.

sletia · Post by **sletia** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:51 pm

Oh God, she had one of the rare Utena layers from when Anthy dives on her.. what a loss..

Silus · Post by **Silus** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:10 am

My God...

This is definitely a tragedy. I can't begin to imagine how one reacts to something like this. My collection is fairly new and I'm already strongly attached to it, so I just can't imagine how it is to lose a 10 year old collection...

Definitely a dark day for any collector...

Kero · Post by **Kero** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:26 pm

Hi everyone. It was my cels and I cried and cried and was horribly depressed for about a week. Now I just hurt and cry over nothing but I snapped out of the really dark depression. I really appreciate everyone who has written. It has helped a lot to know that everyone cares. I am still posting cels because I have tons of cels and sketches. Then I have the joy of wading through crystalrose to find what was completely lost.

Most of my most expensive, painful Utena cels are up. Next comes Slayers and all those beautiful, *expensive* Xelloss cels that I spent years collecting.

I joined anime-beta just so I could chat with people who understand what I am going through. Thanks again for all of your support!!