{"id":9334,"date":"2015-03-19T01:00:22","date_gmt":"2015-03-19T05:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/?p=9334"},"modified":"2025-09-15T16:02:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T20:02:34","slug":"conservation-conversations-tools-of-the-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/19\/conservation-conversations-tools-of-the-trade\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservation Conversations \/\/ Tools of the Trade"},"content":{"rendered":"

As anyone who works with their hands can attest, tools are the key to good work. They also happen to be one of the most satisfying to seek out, collect, and choose favorites from.<\/p>\n

Nearly all tools used by conservators will be easily recognized by bookbinders and are particularly suited to their respective tasks.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8583\"<\/a><\/p>\n

First, there are brushes:<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8571\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_8573\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We use them every day: to adhere\u00a0materials, to tone cloth and Japanese paper, to apply water strategically or smooth out fibers on a bit of tissue. For PVA and mix I really love using round\u00a0Anza<\/a> brushes (second image) and for paste, especially detailed mending, I go for any kind of flat filbert. Toning brushes are one-purpose too, since the risk of them being a tad dirty is always there. We use \u00fcber beautiful Japanese brushes to apply size and tamp down linings (they’re fairly expensive so we share one large, very nice set). Static-dissipating brushes are used to clean\u00a0dust from surfaces, hake brushes to remove loose material from bindings, and this clever little guy in the stand is used to pick up all the debris that gets caught in my bench corners (turns out, his true purpose is to clear away baguette crumbs!).<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8584\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Two other forms of tool that I find myself having quite a few of and utilizing pretty much every day are folders and spatulas.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8577\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In my personal studio I have probably more bone folders than any other single tool, but at work I show more restraint. A bone folder with a point is useful for scoring lines\u00a0and\u00a0forming endcaps, while a nice flat bone folder is great for creasing sections or consolidating a spine. Teflon folders come in handy when smoothness is key or there’s concern over too much burnishing. A flat, super thin Teflon folder is especially good for floating material apart in a bath or removing adhesive with local humidification (be super careful if you choose to shape your own Teflon folders – breathing in the dust is dangerous!).<\/p>\n

Spatulas are a must. Stainless steel ones are great for working with wet materials, since there’s no risk of rusting and the edges are duller and therefore less likely to tear through potentially fragile paper. Casselli spatulas<\/a>\u00a0can be used to remove dry adhesive or accretions, to separate uncut pages when necessary, or to carefully unfold corners and edges. The large ones can easily be shaped (and re-sharpened!) to your preference on a sharpening stone and come in handy for muscling tough spine glue off.<\/p>\n

Some tools are not only super handy, but also super beautiful (thanks, Starrett<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8574\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Best for taking and transferring measurements…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8581\"<\/a><\/p>\n

…and for actually measuring with numbers, obviously.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8599\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dahlia sprayers<\/a>\u00a0are the absolute best for spraying out an object for humidification!<\/p>\n

Some tools\u00a0seem to be suited for something else entirely:<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8578\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Scalpels are great for cutting previous sewing or paring edges of leather or paper, Bakelite folders are especially good for securing cloth around board edges, the bamboo comes in handy when separating sized leaves and folios from Hollytex safely, the butter knife makes an excellent cord-frayer, and the nail file is a handy little sander.<\/p>\n

Some tools and equipment appear to be better suited to a kitchen…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8597\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From left to right, we have a\u00a0fry stirring wok for making paste, blender for thinning paste, and SodaStream for iron gall phytate treatment.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8588\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And the ever-present Pyrex custard dish, used for basically everything – predominantly paste, in our case.<\/p>\n

…or a doctor’s office…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8598\"<\/a><\/p>\n

These are syringes sans needles for holding reserve paste.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8604\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And cotton-tipped applicators for testing ink solubility.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8607\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Also an assortment of ace bandages for holding previous spines in place during re-backs.<\/p>\n

And then there are weights:<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8600\"<\/a><\/p>\n

and more weights…<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8587\"<\/a><\/p>\n

and things that aren’t technically weights, but sure get used as such:<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8593\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_8594\"<\/p>\n

We really like to hold things in place, so essentially anything heavy will do.<\/p>\n

Just\u00a0like bookbinders, conservators have got to be resourceful. Labs tend to be equally outfitted with purpose-designed tools and cleverly re-purposed miscellaneous. It’s easy to get carried away with having just the right device for the job, but we’re faced with “make it work moments” every day. Anything\u00a0you need is probably there, it just may take a bit of ingenuity to figure it out.<\/p>\n

And finally, for when just the right thing is eluding me, my emergency “tool” kit:<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8603\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As anyone who works with their hands can attest, tools are the key to good work. They also happen to be one of the most satisfying to seek out, collect, and choose favorites from. Nearly all tools used by conservators will be easily recognized by bookbinders and are particularly suited to their respective tasks. First, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1353],"tags":[1424,1884,1346],"class_list":["post-9334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conservation","tag-athena-moore","tag-conservation","tag-tools"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Btis-2qy","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9525,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/22\/conservation-conversations-adhesive-pre-coated-repair-materials\/","url_meta":{"origin":9334,"position":0},"title":"Conservation Conversations \/\/ Adhesive Pre-Coated Repair Materials","author":"Athena Moore","date":"April 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Mending tears is a treatment that book and paper conservators utilize\u00a0nearly every day.\u00a0\u00a0For this reason, wheat starch paste is one of our best friends at the bench - a dependable go-to, especially when paired with an appropriate eastern paper. Unfortunately, this reliable standard\u00a0is is not always an option - the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conservation"","block_context":{"text":"conservation","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/conservation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_86231.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_86231.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_86231.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/IMG_86231.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8478,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/02\/conservation-conversations-about-spaces\/","url_meta":{"origin":9334,"position":1},"title":"Conservation Conversations \/\/ About Spaces","author":"Jeanne Goodman","date":"October 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In the first Conservation Conversations, way back in January, Anna brought up the idea of working in a \"studio\" or \"lab\". There is another running joke that is very true about conservators always ending up in the basement. It's not because the PTB* don't like us, but when designing conservation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conservation"","block_context":{"text":"conservation","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/conservation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/uva-lab-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/uva-lab-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/uva-lab-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9028,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/24\/conservation-conversations-doing-nothing\/","url_meta":{"origin":9334,"position":2},"title":"Conservation Conversations \/\/ Doing Nothing","author":"Henry Hebert","date":"December 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Action is often the\u00a0focus of conservation literature and it is natural to\u00a0discuss a\u00a0treatment as\u00a0a kind of narrative. Picture it: a cultural artifact, such as a book or painting, comes into a conservation lab in poor\u00a0shape. The condition may be a result of poor materials, improper\u00a0storage, or disaster, but the conservator,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conservation"","block_context":{"text":"conservation","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/conservation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Huguenots and Henry of Navarre, Vol. II (1886)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/treatment_hebert-1024x593.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/treatment_hebert-1024x593.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/treatment_hebert-1024x593.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8076,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/16\/conservation-conversations-lascaux-498\/","url_meta":{"origin":9334,"position":3},"title":"Conservation Conversations \/\/ Lascaux 498","author":"Becky Koch","date":"May 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve worked in a lot of library conservation labs throughout my training and when I was finally looking for a \u201creal\u201d job I thought I knew more or less what kind of supplies and tools were out there. But then almost two years ago I became the book conservator at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conservation"","block_context":{"text":"conservation","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/conservation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/photo-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8412,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/26\/conservation-conversations-an-additional-form-of-documentation\/","url_meta":{"origin":9334,"position":4},"title":"Conservation Conversations \/\/ An Additional Form of Documentation","author":"Lauren Schott","date":"August 26, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"No one likes to think about all the little things (or, heaven forbid!, big things) that can go wrong as we work on our conservation projects. We are trained professionals. Our hands are steady. Our minds are sharp. And yet, as we work, any number of things could go wrong.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "conservation"","block_context":{"text":"conservation","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/conservation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Documentation5-LaurenSchott.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Documentation5-LaurenSchott.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Documentation5-LaurenSchott.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Documentation5-LaurenSchott.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10791,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/24\/guild-of-book-workers-standards-of-excellence-seminar-charleston-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":9334,"position":5},"title":"Guild of Book Workers \u2013 Standards of Excellence Seminar \/\/ Charleston 2016","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"October 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"After an adventuresome time in Durham, North Carolina, where I consumed delicious local brews, lost at shuffle board, ate\u00a0so many southern dishes, visited Duke's conservation lab, toured a\u00a0lemur center and discovered that I'm still allergic to mosquito bites, Henry and I embarked on our drive to Charleston, South Carolina. 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