required equipment for CLEANING AND pressing comic books
PRESS MACHINES
You will need a heat press machine for pressing comic books. We recommend the 15x15 clamshell press.
Dry Mount Press 15x18
$400-$600
Recommended Brands: Seal, D&K, Beinfang Used machines will cost $400-$800. Brand new machines are $2000-$3000. (EBAY LINK)
DRY CLEANING COMIC BOOKS
You will need basic cleaning supplies for dry cleaning comic books.
Absorene Paper & Book Cleaner is a putty-like dry cleaner that works in much the same way an eraser does and is routinely used in conservation work.
Dental Tools
$10
Dental Tools are for scraping color touch, scraping substances off covers and for lifting delicate corner folds.
Full-backs are the primary centerfold protection layer used for most comic book pressing procedures. You may reuse full-backs to save costs.
Surface Safe Adhesive Remover Safely Removes Stickers Labels Decals Residue
Makeup Brush Set is great for dusting eraser shavings away from comics during dry cleaning.
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers should be used sparingly on white thick cardstock covers or all white comic book covers. Use as a last resort to dry cleaning. Very abrasive.
Pencils
$5
Pencils are a primary dry cleaning tool used in conjunction with white polymer Helix brand pencil cap eraser tops.
Plastic putty knives are used for pressing staples down flat or creating new centerfolds like a bone folder tool.
SRP Paper is used primarily now for dent removal with a ball bearing or tack iron. Most comic book pressing is not done with SRP Paper any longer, with only certain exceptions.
Small Stubby Flathead Screwdriver is used for opening CGC Cases and purshing down staples.
Swiffer Dry Sweeping Cloths are a primary dry cleaning tool for wiping book covers and polishing off soiling, dust, grime, and debris.
Tombow Mono Zero Mechanical Eraser is an optional eraser tool for dry cleaning book covers.
un-du Original Formula Sticker, Tape and Label Remover for dry cleaning book covers.
Helix Brand White Polymer Pencil Cap Erasers are a primary dry cleaning tool used in conjunction with a standard #2 pencil. Used to remove soiling and light staining from book covers.
MAKE YOUR OWN HUMIDITY TANK
Assemble the following components into a humidity tank for producing Underlays during all Comic Book Pressing Procedures.
Buy a clear 40 QT Plastic Storage Bin with lid. This will be the primary housing for your humidity tank.
You will need several hygrometers to get an accurate baseline reading. One hygrometer may give a different reading. The inside of tank should be 100%. The pressing room should be at 45%.
Use a thin layer of paper towels as a water droplet barrier protection layer from underlay sheets or comic books inside humidity tank.
Purchase cheap 20 oz plastic drinking cups as a spacer to elevate your rack 4-5" from water table level.
Purchase a plastic or stainless steel cooling rack as your surface plane for placing underlay sheets or comic books inside a humidity tank. This surface plane is to be 4-5" elevated above water table using spacers or drinking cups.
Water
$2-$5
You will need hot water poured inside the bottom of your storage bin. You may use distilled or tap water. Boil 6-8 Cups of water and pour directly into bottom of empty storage bin.
REQUIRED COMIC BOOK PRESSING SUPPLIES
The following products are required for performing most standard comic book pressing procedures.
Stainless Steel or Aluminum Plates (2x) 1/8" thick, 9x12" or 15x15". Purchase one for a dry mount press or swing arm press. Purchase two if you own a clamshell press. The top plate is optional but recommended.
BCW Magazine Sized Backer Boards are no longer used for most comic book pressing procedures. Only used for book transferring from one plane to another. Also used as a centerfold protection layer for large staple prongs (2x).
BCW Magazine Sized Comic Book Bags are only used for book transferring from one plane to another, or for dry cleaning procedures during book handling.
65 lb Cardstock Paper is a primary stacking layer for all comic book pressing procedures. You will also use 65 lb cardstock paper for under covers during dent removal procedures.
110 lb Cardstock Paper is a primary stacking layer for all comic book pressing procedures. Do not place 110 lb cardstock paper under book covers.
20 lb Copy Paper (White) is a primary stacking layer for all comic book pressing procedures.
Digital Calipers are used for knowing the required gap of book spine thickness and all stacking layers combined. Adjust the pressure adjustment knob on your press machine to control the required gap.
Digital IR Thermometer Gun are used for periodically verifying the temperature accuracy of your heat press machine platen.
Fine Mist Water Spray Bottles are used for producing underlay sheets and performing spine flattening at the centerfold.
Full-backs are the primary centerfold protection layer used for most comic book pressing procedures. You may reuse full-backs to save costs.
Most comic book pressing is not done with SRP Paper any longer, with only certain exceptions and advanced stacking formulas.
DENT REMOVAL TOOLS
You will need advanced dent removal tools for heavily dented or creased comic books.
1.5" Steel Ball Bearings are used for dent removal with SRP Paper and 65 lb cardstock paper.
Dental Tools
$10
Dental Tools are for scraping color touch, scraping substances off covers and for lifting delicate corner folds.
Optional tool used primarily for spine dents, deep denting, and spine rolls. Should be used sparingly with caution.
SRP Paper is used primarily now for dent removal with a ball bearing or tack iron. Most comic book pressing is not done with SRP Paper any longer, with only certain exceptions.
Optional tool used primarily for spine dents, deep denting, and spine rolls. Should be used sparingly with caution.
Primary dent removal tool. Recommended brands are O'Skool and Prolux. Use the minimum setting (212F)
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS
The following tools and products are recommended for maximum effort!
Used for Heat Overlay Press (HOP) Stain Removal procedures. Also used for spine flattening with a foam board.
Irwin Quick Grip Plastic C-Clamps are recommended for front edge of a clamshell press machine.
Black Light Flashlights are good for detecting pin holes when a sheet of white copy paper is placed under cover. Also useful for detecting SOME forms of color touch.
Comic Book CPR: Second Edition is the new method for cleaning comic books and pressing comic books. Ebook: $49 Paperback:$59 Hardcover: $79
Cutting Mat (Fiskar)
$25-40
Cutting mats are recommened for photography, dry cleaning, and book transferring.
Large display, magnetic backing, illuminated backlight. Buy two for a baseline reading.
Extremely effective dry cleaning eraser pad. Very messy. Great for yellow and red covers. You must be extremely careful to wipe away all eraser dust shavings from book or there will be pebbling after press.
During the winter months, if your pressing room temperature drops below 70F, place a large king sized heating pad on top of your press machine. Keep the setting on LOW 24/7. Make sure heating pad does not have an auto-off feature.
STAIN REMOVAL PRODUCTS
Purchase the following products for advanced stain removal comic book procedures.
It is recommended to use a calcium hydroxide solution mixed with water for all Heat Overlay Press Method (HOP) and BLED-O stain removal procedures.
It is recommended to use a calcium hydroxide solution mixed with water for all Heat Overlay Press Method (HOP) and BLED-O stain removal procedures.
Full detailed instructions are found inside Comic Book Stain Removal and Whitening (2022) by Michael Frederik Sorensen.
A fine mister spray bottle is used for liquid cleaning during most Heat Overlay Press Method (HOP) or Blue Light LED (BLED-M) Method stain removal procedures.
3 pack of half-gallon glass bottles for mixing alkaline water solutions.
Hydrogen Peroxide is a bleaching agent for the Heat Overlay Press Method (HOP) and Blue Light LED (BLED) Method stain removal procedures.
When performing any misting inside a light box, keep the light box ventilated and hymidity around 40-50%.
MAKE YOUR OWN LIGHT BOX
Assemble the following components into a light box for photo-bleaching (whitening) comic book procedures.
Buy a clear 40 QT Plastic Storage Bin with lid. This will be the primary housing for your humidity tank. Approx. 13" Tall.
You will need several hygrometers to get an accurate baseline reading. One hygrometer may give a different reading. The inside of tank should be 100%. The pressing room should be at 45%.
Block harmful eye irritating blue light waves while wearing these protective sunglasses when using the light box.
You will need two (2x) E26/E27 Light Socket Switch Plugs for 450NM Blue LED light bulbs.
You will need two (2x) 450-460NM Blue LED light bulbs for your light box.
Drill air holes on side of light box using a carbide bit, preventing plastic from cracking or splintering.
Purchase a plastic or stainless steel cooling rack as your surface plane for placing underlay sheets or comic books inside a humidity tank. This surface plane is to be 4-5" elevated above water table.
Purchase cheap 20 oz plastic drinking cups as a spacer to elevate your rack 4-5" from water table level.
Full detailed instructions are found inside Comic Book Stain Removal and Whitening (2022) by Michael Frederik Sorensen.
You will need basic comic book pressing equipment and supplies that can be purchased online. This recommended list of products includes press machine options and supplies for cleaning your comics. Most products can be substituted at your local hardware store or department store like Walmart or Target. All links will take you straight to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, we earn income from qualifying purchases. THIS SITE CONTAINS EBAY AFFILIATE LINKS FOR WHICH I MAY BE COMPENSATED.
