HOW TO FLATTEN A COMIC BOOK CENTERFOLD
USING FOAM BOARD
Let’s go ahead and talk about foam boards and how they relate to comic book dent removal. A lot of dent removal becomes easier by flattening the centerfold and creating a new fold. This technique is used for corner crunches, spine roll repairs, deep denting at spine, spine trauma, blunted corners, and staple dents.
A foam board is the primary tool for this procedure and will absorb the staples without pushing through the whole book. This popular technique will be used in Chapter 15 for spine roll repairs as well. Purchase a 1/2" or 3/16” foam board that is 20” x 30” in size at your local hobby craft store. Cut the foam board with a box cutter and a drywall T-square into two 15” x 15” squares for your clamshell or swing arm machine. Cut foam board to 18” x 22” if you have a dry mount machine. Follow the 12 steps below and follow the pictorial on the next two pages to flatten a centerfold:
PURCHASE 1/2" FOAM BOARD FOR FLATTENING CENTERFOLDS
1/2" FOAM BOARD AT HOBBY LOBBY
Purchase a 1/2" or 3/16” foam board that is 20” x 30” in size at your local hobby craft store. Cut the foam board with a box cutter and a drywall T-square into two 15” x 15” squares for your clamshell or swing arm machine.
HOW TO FLATTEN A COMIC BOOK CENTERFOLD USING FOAM BOARD
1. HUMIDITY TANK
3. REMOVE SILICONE PAD
2. PREHEAT MACHINE
1. Place comic book inside the humidity tank for 1 hour with fresh boiled water. Thicker magazine-sized comics require 2 hrs. Brand-new Modern Age glossy thin magazine-style paper stock comics require 15-30 min.
2. PREHEAT MACHINE
3. REMOVE SILICONE PAD
2. PREHEAT MACHINE
2. Preheat machine to 140F-145F and set timer to 600 seconds.
3. REMOVE SILICONE PAD
3. REMOVE SILICONE PAD
3. REMOVE SILICONE PAD
3. Remove silicone pad and plates.
4. PLACE FOAM BOARD
6. INTERIOR PAGES FACING UP
3. REMOVE SILICONE PAD
4. Place1/2” or 1/4" thick foam board on press machine bottom.
5. COPY PAPER
6. INTERIOR PAGES FACING UP
6. INTERIOR PAGES FACING UP
5. Place two sheets of copy paper on foam board. Allow sheets to overlap by 2” at spine.
6. INTERIOR PAGES FACING UP
6. INTERIOR PAGES FACING UP
6. INTERIOR PAGES FACING UP
6. Place open comic with the interior pages facing up on dry sheets of paper.
7. COVER SIDE DOWN ONLY
7. COVER SIDE DOWN ONLY
7. COVER SIDE DOWN ONLY
7. Do not place book cover side up. The staples could drive through cover, detaching cover.
8. COPY PAPER
7. COVER SIDE DOWN ONLY
7. COVER SIDE DOWN ONLY
8. Place two sheets of copy paper on centerfold. Allow sheets to overlap 2” across spine.
9. OPTIONAL TOP PLATE
7. COVER SIDE DOWN ONLY
10. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT KNOB
9. OPTIONAL: Place a 15” x 15” aluminum plate 1/16” thick on top of dry copy paper. This thickness makes up for the difference in book thickness, allowing for fewer turns of the pressure adjustment knob. Press down gently and make sure spine is flattening out if there is a spine roll curl.
10. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT KNOB
10. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT KNOB
10. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT KNOB
10. If you do not have an extra 15” x 15” plate, use pressure adjustment knob by turning clockwise 7-10 turns. Use firm pressure. Firm pressure is required.
11. TURN OFF MACHINE
10. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT KNOB
11. TURN OFF MACHINE
11. Once you have closed and locked the press machine, turn off press machine. OPTIONAL: Place a C-Clamp on front edge of clamshell press machine if you have one.
12. WAIT 10 MINUTES
10. PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT KNOB
11. TURN OFF MACHINE
12. Wait 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, open press machine. Remove book. Spine is now flattened. Return pressure adjustment knob to its previous setting. Remove foam board. Replace silicone pad and plates. You are now ready for dent removal or spine roll procedures on spine of comic book.
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