More on those darn sticky tape on your pan sized sketches

[kamidake]

Sensei's wrote a great post on how to remove those yellowing sticky tape using eucalyptus oil:

http://www.anime-beta.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=24693

And I'm thinking I'll seriously need to do some intervention with a lot of my older sketches. So here's the question, how much do you think this will impact the value of the sketches? Say, if in the future I decided to sell off some of the sketches that I removed the tape and attached with archival tape, will this put you off from buying it?

I certainly think that any "modifications" done to the sketch need to be disclosed before purchasing, just wondering if I should actually go ahead and do it or not. (or if I should do it on some sketches but not others...)

[Keropi]

Say, if in the future I decided to sell off some of the sketches that I removed the tape and attached with archival tape, will this put you off from buying it?

I think it might, but a lot of it depends on how it looks like after you're done.

With my paper collectibles I would usually prefer:

1. Having the original tape removed

to

2. Having the original tape removed AND replaced with archival tape by a non-professional.

But it depends on how the after results look. Personally I don't even like messing with that kind of thing. I just leave the paper as it is after I remove the offending material (whether the paper is ripped or what not).

[sensei]

The sites I visited while checking my facts for the piece kamidake references were, overall, very skeptical about using any tape, "archival" or not, on paper documents. So the compromise I finally adopted was to remove the unstable tape from both margins, then let the solvent clear overnight. Then I cut two thin strips of scrapbooking tape (rated "acid-free" by Scotch) and attached them to each side of the pan sketch. Finally, I removed the old tape from the middle, let the solvent clear, and bagged the sketch in a polyurethane cel bag.

The two parts remained in the same registration as when the sketch was done, the tape was removed from the crucial sections where there was artwork, and the sketch was housed in a stable reinforcing bag. That way, I felt, the major damage issues were resolved, and if the "archival" tape in the future did turn unstable, it would damage only the edges and not the parts where the sketch was done.

To deal directly with the question kamidake asks, I would consider a sketch that had been stabilized by removing yellowing tape to be more valuable than one that still had the tape in place and would need to be conserved ASAP on delivery.

But I would, of course, expect the previous owner to be clear on exactly what had been done to the sketch, and what damage, if any, was done in the process. (Occasionally minor peels do occur on the back while the tape is coming off.)

[kamidake]

Have you researched into Filmoplast P tape? I was thinking of using that since it's used for mending library books.

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/ ... ctID=21129

Just looking through my sketches I already see some that are starting to discolor that were fine before, so within just a couple of years, the tape is destabilizing. I'm afraid if I wait any longer it's going to get really bad...

[sensei]

I haven't: and there may be some new adhesive technologies that have emerged since the library/archivist sites that I visited were constructed. I just opted for a very conservative approach, one that would keep the sheets in original registration but not risk exchanging a short-term solution for a long-term problem.

Overall, the kind of vigilance you're showing is what collectors need to cultivate: generally I leave tape in place if it seems stable, but as soon as I see signs of instability (you can see it early on by holding the sketch to a bright light and watching for partial translucency under the tape, a sign that the adhesive is starting to react with the fibers of the paper), then off it comes, presto.

For those that come to this discussion late, keep in mind that it's the adhesive, not the tape, that causes the damage. If you carefully pull the tape off, most times you'll leave an adhesive residue on the paper, and that will damage the sketch in time anyhow. Also, some sketches were done on pads with a thin line of "sticky pad" adhesive all across the top. That's also unstable and will in short order turn the top edge of your sketch yellow if you don't get it off.

Eucalyptus oil is what librarians and I use (kills children and pets dead if they drink it, so take care). Goo-gone also allegedly works (but that's lighter fluid, so don't immolate your sketches by smoking while you work).

[Blaster]

Sensei, have you tested the eucalyptus oil on the coloured roughs pages? I've got a taped pan rough sketch that is relly nice - but I'm worried that the eucalyptus oil might leave a stain or wash out some of the colour of the coloured paper.

[kamidake]

It does seem like the "frosted" tape is more stable than the clear ones. I have sketches from the same series using these 2 different tapes, and the clear one is starting to yellow, and the frosted one looks fine (for now I guess). So Sensei, do you think it's fine to just leave the frosted taped ones for now until it starts showing signs of deterioration?

[sensei]

Sensei, have you tested the eucalyptus oil on the coloured roughs pages?

If you mean the thin yellow, green, or pink papers normally used for roughs or shuuseis, yes: the oil does not affect the paper itself. It will leave a "tide mark" on watercolor (which you can alleviate by dabbing around the edges) and it will lift and smear the photocopy print in a layout copy (many of which, alas, come with icky tape).

So Sensei, do you think it's fine to just leave the frosted taped ones for now until it starts showing signs of deterioration?

I think the conservation freak would go for the Remove All Tape route, but, since I have more sketches than time, I think I'd opt for vigilance. Look at taped sketches every three months or so, every year at least, and watch for signs of instability. In general frosted tape is better in quality, and there are clear tapes that I've seen that also seem stable. But, especially for recent series, it would be best to watch any tape closely and keep that jug of eucalyptus oil (or Goo-Gone) close at hand (but stored away from small children).

I'm no conservation expert, so I'd be happy to have any of this critiqued or corrected by someone who knows more about the chemistry involved.