Removing Foxing

In recent years a company has developed a method of removing foxing using a laser method, I'm not sure how the paper fibres would stand up to this treatment, but it isn't on the markert as yet.

To use my method firstly you need to understand the structure of the manufacture of the many different types of paper, short fibres, long fibres, paper size etc, because what you take out you must definitley replace with the correct ingredients.

Secondly before neutralizing the spore, a mordant must be created to "fix" the medium to the paper albeit ink pigments, water colour pigments, et al.

   

This spore is interesting as it has covered the whole of the surface area of the paper except the very light areas to the left. These areas are not affected because there is no iron there!

   
This spore is the most common, there are also other areas on the page that need to be addressed such as the insect damage, creases, water damage and re-building the page.

I recently had an enquiry from a head conservator at a large institution stating:

"I am very impressed with your information on foxing. 

I was hoping to find out how you have been successful in removing foxing (and keeping it gone)  from prints that are frames without a tissue.

I have just retreated a very rare print which was treated 10 years ago for foxing. I retreated it successfully by spot bleaching half a year ago and now it has reoccurred".

Ouch!!...............

Don't these people know they are only "curators" of national treasures?? This "conservator" has used "acid" to remove foxing.This will break down the cellulose and the size in the paper and cellular degredation will occur resulting in ultimate disintegration. I guess she will realize when the print is returned with holes where it has been "treated".

My formulae has proven the neutralised spore will never come back because the formulae also neutralises and removes the ferrous oxide (the food source) in the paper so basically it turns chemical wood pulp in to mechanical wood pulp, whereas all bleaching methods do not. Therefore paper I have treated that is stored in the correct conditions that cause foxing will never become affected again as the iron that the spore is attracted to is also removed from the paper....... Bleach treated or chemical treated papers on the other hand will always be subject to the foxing returning and eventual disintegration.

Comments

[Catherine Carter]

How would you recommend cleaning a gouache painting on arches which has some signs of foxing.

[Elliptical reviews]

No offense, but if there's a facebook like button, it'll be much easier for me to share.