Question Lineco pH Testing Pen

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Dave

Dave

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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Jun 11, 2004
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Edwardsburg, MI
I sometimes use a Lineco pH testing pen to see if a paper is acidic or alkaline. When you make a mark on the paper/board if the surface is acidic it remains colorless or turns yellow. If it is above 6.8 pH the mark turns purple or lavender.

I just pulled out the pen because I'm making some paper corner pockets and wanted to test the paper to make sure it was "acid free". It turned purple indicating it was fine to use.

I then decided to test some other papers...my cheap paper I use for my printer, an invoice from a supplier, an envelope and the back of an Bainbridge ArtCare board... they ALL turned purple!

The FRONT of a Bainbridge papermat turned yellow indicating it was acidic! The mark on the back of the board turned purple. They are supposed to be "acidfree" (but not lignin free). The paper on the surface of the board must be acidic.

What the heck??? Are they buffering most all papers now???

:confused:
 
My meager understanding is, it is actually cheaper for the paper companies to make acid free material, and there is more demand for it, otherwise everything we use would be newsprint quality.

Must be a slow day at the shop eh Dave? Hey Dave do you have pictures of those hangers you mentioned?
 
I've noticed that, Randy. Most copier and printer paper is far better than it used to be. ...Not that I would use it to make mounting corners, because it contains optical brighteners etc.
:cool: Rick
 
I'm concerned to hear that the paper layer on the surface of the board read acidic. I am going to start testing these. I have been taking the manufacturers at their word on the acid content of the boards. I am hoping your experience was a fluke.
 
Don't forget, he said that one was a PAPERmat. If you are concerned about conservation issues you wouldn't be using one of those anyway.
:cool: Rick
 
Dave said:
What the heck??? Are they buffering most all papers now???

:confused:
Click to expand...

I think the real challenge is finding acid-free mats that have no buffers. The acid-free part is just a catch phrase to make people think they're getting more for their buck and most don't even have any idea if there was acid in a product before saying they need it to be free of it.
 
To make something test purple, they only need to add chalk, which will slow the aging of the paper, but only lignin-free paper can be considered to be preservation quality.



Hugh
 
The only reason I have any paper mat board in my shop is because I'm doing a hospital job that insisted everything be conservation quality except the mat board! :nuts: Conservation Clear Glass,museum board as a backer, rice paper hinges, etc.

Why, oh why they specified Crescent and Bainbridge paper mats and wouldn't budge I have no idea other than the other art they purchased from a corporate art firm used these boards. I tried to tell them... no luck.

The paper I used for the corner pockets was 100% cotton Strathmore bristol so I was confident it would test acid free... #235 series.
 
Do the pens "go bad"?

I've had mine for years and rarely ever have used it. So when I do grab it I always wonder if it has gone "stale" or not.
 
Acid free mats

Acid free mats are just buffered refer to the library of congress paper standards. To call something acid free only means it is buffered.
 
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