GENERAL SPINE TRAUMA
FOR COMIC BOOK CORNER CRUNCHES AND BLUNTED SPINES
This method is for general spine trauma on vintage comic books printed from 1945-1999 with flat matte interior pages. If you see nasty corner crunches, blunt spine trauma or any other crazy defects, don’t waste any time – perform the General Spine Trauma Method. Do not attempt using a Hot Shot on any books with covers or interior pages featuring thin glossy magazine style paper stock. Try to avoid using a ball bearingfor this method along the spine because additional spine ticks and stress lines could appear. This procedure can still be performed for brand-new Modern Age comics with glossy thin interior pages but use a steam gun instead of a Hot Shot.
REMOVING GENERAL SPINE TRAUMA ON COMIC BOOKS
1. ASSESS DEFECTS
2. PREPARE HOT SHOT
2. PREPARE HOT SHOT
1. Assess the defects first with photography and inspection. If defects are too close to the spine or an edge, it’s time to consider General Spine Trauma Method. Place book in humidity tank for 1 hour with a fresh gallon of boiled water.
2. PREPARE HOT SHOT
2. PREPARE HOT SHOT
2. PREPARE HOT SHOT
2. For books with flat matte interior pages, prepare a Hot Shot damp cotton round by squeezing a wet cotton round in between two dry cotton rounds. Discard two outside formerly dry cotton rounds and use middle one.
3. APPLY HOT SHOT
2. PREPARE HOT SHOT
4. FLATTEN CENTERFOLD
3. Gently apply the Hot Shot damp cotton round along the spine. Do not rub Hot Shot along spine. Simply move Hot Shot, squeeze, lift, move, squeeze, lift, move, and repeat along spine. Do not squeeze and slide Hot Shot down spine. Books with glossy thin interior pages should have light steam applied with the steam gun instead of using a Hot Shot.
4. FLATTEN CENTERFOLD
4. FLATTEN CENTERFOLD
4. FLATTEN CENTERFOLD
4. Follow the instructions for “HOW TO FLATTEN A CENTERFOLD” at the beginning of this chapter. Alternatively, flatten spine using a tack iron with the cover facing up while book is on a foam board. Avoid staple areas with tack iron to prevent staple tears.
5. APPLY HOT SHOT
4. FLATTEN CENTERFOLD
6. APPLY TACK IRON
5. Flip book over so the cover is facing down. Apply Hot Shot directly to centerfold area where trauma is prominent. Allow interior pages to absorb the humidity for a few minutes.
6. APPLY TACK IRON
4. FLATTEN CENTERFOLD
6. APPLY TACK IRON
6. Apply heat using the tack iron on setting 2 for analog, 212F for digital. Don’t forget to use SRP Paper or copy paper as your protection barrier layer between tack iron and page.
7. FLIP BOOK, APPLY HOT SHOT
7. FLIP BOOK, APPLY HOT SHOT
7. FLIP BOOK, APPLY HOT SHOT
7. Flip book carefully over so the cover is facing up. Apply Hot Shotdamp cotton round directly on areas of trauma on spine. Press Hot Shot firmly against any deep dents or creases for a few seconds.
8. APPLY TACK IRON
7. FLIP BOOK, APPLY HOT SHOT
7. FLIP BOOK, APPLY HOT SHOT
8. Immediately apply heat using the tack ironon setting 2 for analog, 212F for digital. Don’t forget to use SRP Paper or copy paper as your protection barrier layer between tack iron and page. Spend a few minutes gliding tack iron along spine, back and forth. Avoid staple areas to prevent staple tears.
9. MOST DEFECTS GONE
7. FLIP BOOK, APPLY HOT SHOT
10. RETURN ORIGINAL FOLD
9. The main defects and spine trauma should be greatly reduced. It is acceptable to see a few remaining defects and creasing. You will not be able to remove all of it during this step, but most defects will be removed after pressing in press machine.
10. RETURN ORIGINAL FOLD
10. RETURN ORIGINAL FOLD
10. RETURN ORIGINAL FOLD
10. Carefully close the book back to its natural fold. Do not attempt to create a new centerfold. The only time you reset the centerfold is when there is a spine roll present.
11. APPLY TACK IRON
10. RETURN ORIGINAL FOLD
12. PRESS IMMEDIATELY
11. Proceed to apply heat with tack iron along spine for a few minutes. Keep the heat to a minimum around 212-220F.
12. PRESS IMMEDIATELY
10. RETURN ORIGINAL FOLD
12. PRESS IMMEDIATELY
12. Press book immediately in press machine while following the recommended guidelines using the matching corresponding formula found in Comic Book CPR: First Edition
1988 Dark Horse Comics ALIENS #1 First Printing CGC 8.5
This low grade Off-White Pages CGC 5.0 copy of 1988 Dark Horse Comics ALIENS 1 First Printing was regraded and received a CGC 8.5 with White Pages after performing the General Spine Trauma Method.
Previous State
Previous state:
• Severe bottom corner crunch
• Blunted centerfold
• 4 deep spine ticks
• Corner crease, top right front
• Crease, left bottom back
• Backer scratches, back cover
• Off-White Pages
Difficult Spine Damage
The General Spine Trauma Method is the best procedure for removing difficult spine damage.
Grader Notes
spine stress lines breaks color
small crease right top of front cover breaks color
crease left bottom of back cover
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