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Removing glue from an old photograph- 1950's era? OR at least halting damage?

I have four old photographs of my grandmother, 3 black and white and 1 color from the 1950's and 60's. They were mounted in a damn unfortunate collage that had not only glue but flowers all over them. I have removed the pictures from the scrapbook paper page, but a significant amount of glue and flower still remains. I realize that my best bet is to get them scanned post haste, but is there anyway to retard further deterioration? I have some experience in document preservation, but none in photographs.

Any ideas?

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  • 1 decade ago
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  • 5 years ago

    Slow and steady will get it done. Trying to force things along generally just makes a mess! The procedure consists of five steps: 1. Spritz the sticker and the area around it with a little WD-40. The WD combined with the heat in step 2 will dissolve the adhesive along the edges of the sticker, making it easier to peel back. 2. Allow the WD to sit for a few moments, and then begin warming up the sticker (with something like a blow dryer or heat gun) and the immediate area around the sticker. You don't need to get the area blistering hot, and remember, you are working with a painted surface. Overheating the area can cause the paint to soften, making it easier to scratch. 3. As the sticker warms up you'll feel the surface become more pliable. When it does, start at one corner and slowly and carefully peel up the edge. 4. As the sticker lifts, apply a little heat to the leading edge. If the sticker starts to melt, ease up the heat. If it tears at some point, don't panic—you can remove the remnants later. 5. Once the sticker has been removed, wash down any leftover adhesive with WD-40, then use a clean rag to wipe the residue away.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    go to an expert.

    try yellowpages.com

    I had to do the same thing with posters, but that was different.

    I just slowly pulled the the dried glue and stuff off. And it worked.

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