ToolTinker & ComicSeeker
ToolTinker ToolTinker
Got my hands on a 1987 obscure title that was printed on a cranky rotary press, and I’m trying to coax it into laying down clean pages again. Ever wrestled a broken printer into a clean comic?
ComicSeeker ComicSeeker
Yeah, I’ve wrestled a toaster into a scanner before, so this isn’t a show‑stopper. First, get the press off the page and give it a good dust‑off. Then run a little hot water bath—just a few seconds—to loosen the ink. If the pages are warped, lay them flat on a padded board while you’re drying them, or hang them by the corners with a bit of tension. Finally, give them a light press with a heavy book, but be careful not to crush the paper. If the ink’s still stubborn, a gentle bleach rinse can clean it up, but test a corner first. After that, you’ll have pages that actually look like a comic, not a rotary press’s rage attack.
ToolTinker ToolTinker
Sounds like a good plan, though I’ll keep an eye on the paper strength—those old press sheets can be thin and fragile, so the book’s weight should be just enough to press the ink out without tearing the fibers. Also, keep a damp rag nearby; a quick swipe after the water bath can help pull any stubborn smudge out before it dries. And maybe consider a light pass through a heat press, but keep the temperature low—just enough to melt the ink, not the paper. Good luck, and may the ghost of the rotary press bless you with clean lines.