Removing old glue on sheepskin

Matoaka

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Posts
519
Loc
Albuquerque, NM
We have a 1952 sheepskin diploma from West Point. The problem is brittle, old glue or paste on the back that has turned a lovely shade of dark ochre and it shows through to the front. Any way to remove this old glue other than trying to scrape it off with a razor blade?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Have you tested to see if the old glue is water soluble? Those old sheepskins where usually mounted with a vegetable paste. You should be able to just wash the old paste off. The skin itself may be stained and probably is. A conservator would be a more appropriate approach to reaching the correct solution.

John
 
John... No, I haven't tested. I was afraid to apply any water to it. How do I do that without causing damage?
 
I'd stick with mechanical (scraping) removal, if you can do it without abrasion.

Although water might work, depending on what the adhesive is, it will likely cause ripples (or worse) in the parchment. You'd need to be prepared to flatten it again.

There are a lot of different kinds of parchment out there, which react differently according to their manufacture.

Rebecca
 
I do not know about you, but a project beyond my level of expertise and or comfort level is a no go. I would rather farm the job (parchment demounting) to someone who has done it before. Preferrably many times before.

Having done a procedure once with succss is not the same as an expert who has done it many times and can recover from something that pops up unexpectently. I.E. recover from a ooopps!
help.gif


The other definition of an EXPERT:

The person who has been brought in after the fact to share in the blame. ;)
 
If it’s real sheepskin, like “Gremlins”, DO NOT GET IT WET!!!

Sheepskin is extremely hygroscopic and will distort if you moisten it. When you try to get rid of the ripples or puckers with heat, you will exacerbate the problem geometrically.
 
JRB, your first responder, had what I think is the best suggestion: Let a conservator do it.

Rebecca may be a good choice for this kind of work. Why not contact her about it privately?
 
Back
Top