Paperwork removal

[Flowjoe]

Sold one of my ‘69s to a friend who is digging in on the resto.  He dropped the tank and found paperwork but it is, as one would expect, very dirty and brittle.  Any suggestions on removing it from the tank?  I’m at a loss so any tips appreciated.  I’ll get a photo up shortly.

[bcmiller]

This link might be of interest, once you get it removed find a paper conservator.

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=9193.msg66045#msg66045

Getting it loose from the tank, not sure. Maybe use steam? That’s not a recommendation, just a thought!

Hopefully others will chime in.

[Flowjoe]

Thanks for the thought.  Yeah, I thought about steam too but I have very little experience with removing paperwork - having never been lucky enough to find any on any of the cars I've owned. 

Here's what we are dealing with.  It might be a lost cause.

[68camaroz28]

Thanks for the thought.  Yeah, I thought about steam too but I have very little experience with removing paperwork - having never been lucky enough to find any on any of the cars I've owned. 

Here's what we are dealing with.  It might be a lost cause.

Yikes, you may be correct! Check the NCRS forum board or goggle for info as the Corvette people have been at this for a long time, i.e. removing tank stickers.

[Flowjoe]

Thanks for the thought.  Yeah, I thought about steam too but I have very little experience with removing paperwork - having never been lucky enough to find any on any of the cars I've owned. 

Here's what we are dealing with.  It might be a lost cause.

Yikes, you may be correct! Check the NCRS forum board or goggle for info as the Corvette people have been at this for a long time, i.e. removing tank stickers.

I didn't even think of the NCRS - and I should have.  Thanks

[169INDY]

I think you might find some KEY blocks or squares of codes in that still, Work small sections, using makeup soft brush and new razor blade play like you are excavating  rare Dino remains, photos digi camera in place using tripod and good close up settings, Mine was similar also flatten between a couple of pc's of glass and piece it together like a puzzle, nothing liquid, no vacuums, I used a Ear bulb to poof some of the dry dirt away, you know that thing the Doc uses to Hydro- your ear drum at the Docs office,,,,Best of luck

[Flowjoe]

I think you might find some KEY blocks or squares of codes in that still, Work small sections, using makeup soft brush and new razor blade play like you are excavating  rare Dino remains, photos digi camera in place using tripod and good close up settings, Mine was similar also flatten between a couple of pc's of glass and piece it together like a puzzle, nothing liquid, no vacuums, I used a Ear bulb to poof some of the dry dirt away, you know that thing the Doc uses to Hydro- your ear drum at the Docs office,,,,Best of luck

Thanks for the input

[Hans L]

The Chassis Broadcast Copy on my Z was rough but decipherable.   I was unable to remove it (didn't want to take a chance), so I ended up cutting the metal around it out and took the whole piece, metal and all to a professional document restoration professional.  Not cheap but the results were very good. 

Before:  (note - I was able to salvage many of the loose pieces on the top of the paper which aren't shown but in the envelope)



After restoration:

[KurtS]

Also try James (FirstGenAddict). He has some paper knowledge and some experience with the sheets.

[firstgenaddict]

There are quite a few archivists who do this type of work, the best are in the antique book restoration business, archiving and preserving 1000 - 5000 year old paper makes a 50 year old broadcast sheet peanuts.

Main thing is stabilizing as far as neutralizing the acidity and getting some moisture back into the paper...

 http://graphicconservation.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

[cook_dw]

Great article James. Thank you.

[firstgenaddict]

The pipette with the suction table is basically what I did with the first sheet I recovered
(I put the sheet on top of a few flat paper towels then put the stack on a cookie cooling rack in order to wick the tar solution when it was loosened as I poured acetone  through the sheet)   

[Flowjoe]

Restoration and preservation would be key if we can get it off the tank.  It is stuck hard and extremely brittle.  If we can salvage the little bits of paper then we might be able to send it out for restoration part.  It's how to get it off the tank in large enough pieces that is vexing us now.

[maroman]

Did you talk to anyone that restores paper for a living? They should be able to help you get it off so they can save it.

[Hans L]

Restoration and preservation would be key if we can get it off the tank.  It is stuck hard and extremely brittle.  If we can salvage the little bits of paper then we might be able to send it out for restoration part.  It's how to get it off the tank in large enough pieces that is vexing us now.

How important is it to save the gas tank vs the build sheet?  For mine, the build sheet was glued on to the point there was no way I could remove it without destroying it.   So in my case, I concluded it was more important to save the build sheet then the gas tank and cut the tank to remove the buildsheet, metal attached.   Thereafter, the document restoration expert used the proper chemicals, preservation techniques to remove the paper from the metal.

You could always re-weld the metal back to the tank after the professional removes the paper work from the metal.