Preserving Tank Stickers

[Robert C.]

What's the preferred way to keep this "forever".

I pulled one yesterday and only the center lettering where it was glued was destroyed.

The RPO's all show up.......so.......I want to keep this, but the paper is very, very fragile.

In the past I did cold lamination, but I'm wondering about the hot lamination process.

So, "cold" versus a "hot" lamination????

The hot process involves 2 sheets of plastic and it going through heated rollers.

Any thoughts are appreciated !

Bob

[Mike E.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

The previous owner of my red 71 LT-1 convert used the hot process about a year ago--it looks fine at this point--don't know about the future, but don't anticipate issues, and it's too late to do anything about them.

[Robert C.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

Thanks Mike.....I have a test piece of the sticker I'm going to send through the process in a few days and see if it stays intact.

I guess I have a fear of the paper breaking apart as it gets rolled........and long term. This paper is sooooo fragile, a good wind breaks it up !!

I'm hoping I can dig the second one out from the dash area, but the dash
is partially ripped apart, so I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for the feedback.

Bob

[Terry M.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

One of the tenants of paper/art conservation is to do nothing that cannot be reversed. The process you are contemplating is NOT reversible. I would encourage you to think about that before you proceed. As Rev. Mike said, it is too late for him at this point.

Check out: http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/paper.html

or: http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/

[Robert C.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

Thanks Terry.....looking at the web sites you suggested as I type this !

Bob

[Roberto L.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

Thanks Terry.....looking at the web sites you suggested as I type this !

Bob

While wainting for professional asistance you may deep a little the document, very carefully, in water, to reduce acidity. I did it without problem some years ago with my tank sticker.

Best regards

[Warren F.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

Robert,

Don't know which year Corvette you own, but do not submerge your Order Copy in water if it is '71 or '72. If you have a '70 or early '71 build copy I guess it would not hurt it.

You're indeed correct in saying these are extremely fragile pieces of documentation. Mine are kept in acid free archival sheet enclosures and laid flat in a dresser drawer with all my other Corvette papers. Eventually the ink printing will fade away, especially on those sheets which are still attached to the top of the fuel tanks, exposed to the climate elements, and heat from the exhaust.

[Steven G.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

I have an original build sheet that would crumble easily. I am storing it in a plastic container on a sheet of paper, so I take pics., ect. until I make a wooden thin box with a clear door for viewing or purchase one. I would not chance damaging this old document. Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

You're indeed correct in saying these are extremely fragile pieces of documentation. Mine are kept in acid free archival sheet enclosures and laid flat in a dresser drawer with all my other Corvette papers. Eventually the ink printing will fade away, especially on those sheets which are still attached to the top of the fuel tanks, exposed to the climate elements, and heat from the exhaust.

Warren is right. For all the papers I got with the 2008 I put them in one of the buffered archival boxes between sheets of acid free paper from Light Impressions. For this year they have been in the garage. No lights and no ozone. I would prefer to have them in the more stable temperature of the house, but the box has a rather large footprint. Neither the attic nor the basement are good places to store materials you wish to preserve for the long haul.

[Anthony S.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

The only way that I could get my build sheet off of my tank was to lay a piece of sticky laminate paper over it & then I rubbed it until I got the 99% of the sheet off.

I then used a second piece to cover the back, essentially sealing the build sheet.

Anthony

[Robert C.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

Would acid free backing paper and 2 sheets of plexiglass or acrylic be safe?

Any idea if art stores sell these supplies?

Also, I take it normal white office paper has too many chemicals in it to be
safe?

Thanks to all that replied, I learned a few new thi ngs about storing paper
today !!!

Bob

[Terry M.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

Would acid free backing paper and 2 sheets of plexiglass or acrylic be safe?

Any idea if art stores sell these supplies?

Also, I take it normal white office paper has too many chemicals in it to be
safe?

Thanks to all that replied, I learned a few new thi ngs about storing paper
today !!!

Bob

The acid-free backing paper is a good idea. I don't know if plexiglass is the good kind of plastic. Check the internet for an answer to that. There is a lot about plastic in the Light Impressions catalog. I have seen people simply bolt together two pieces of plastic with the acid free paper behind the document.

Yes, ordinary office paper has too many harsh chemicals to be safely used as a backing material. You may find acid-free paper at art supply stores, hobby shops, or stores which cater to genealogists. Folks who have researched their family history often have documents they wish to preserve. Your local library or historical society may know where to get acid-free paper.

Storing precious documents in wooden drawers is not a good idea. Metal drawers (file cabinets) are preferable.

[Thomas N.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

When I took my tank sticker off about 24 years ago, I lightly brushed off the sediment that settled on the top of the sticker until I couldn't brush any more sediment off, and ran it through a hot laminator where I was working at the time. My tank sticker was in real nice shape, no tears, and the laminator material was quite thin (about 2 mils). Sometimes I wish I didn't laminate it, but hey I was a kid and sealing it seemed like a good idea, and the plus side it that it has kept the ink on the sticker well preserved, flattened the sticker where the glue patch was, and I don't need to worry about crinkling an edge when putting it in and out of my document folder, and it looks as great as the day I did it.

If you do decide to laminate, it is a one shot deal, and make sure you have a real big border around the document, and don't try to trim too close to the document. It will have the tendency to delaminate if you trim too close. I would think that if you had a document that was in pieces, this might be a good way to keep them all together.

There are a lot of acid free papers and sleeves out there for collectors that do a great job also. Good luck in what ever path you wish to pursue!

[Joseph K.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

If the lettering is hard to read is there any method that would help make it readable?

[Terry M.]

Re: Preserving Tank Stickers

If the lettering is hard to read is there any method that would help make it readable?

I have read reports of people using a copy machine and changing the contrast settings. Also digital photographs and the using some of the photo enhancement software has worked for others. I don't think there is any one method that works in all cases. Just experiment.