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Treating books in the Packtite

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Koo27

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Sep 15 2009 14:17:57
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When stacking books in brick format inside of Packtite where should you put the probe? What is an effective method for paperbacks, hardcovers, magazines, and large books? What about photo albums? Can or should they be treated in Packtite?
MuchoInsano

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Sep 16 2009 0:59:44
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I am sure the Packtite will ruin photos. Those will have to be removed and the album treated. Some of the experts will have to chime in on what to do with the photos.
BitteninBaltimore

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Sep 16 2009 12:51:54
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What I've done with books is stack them brick like for optimum airflow, but I make sure that the thickest book is in the dead center in all directions and place the probe in that one. I figure if that book gets up to 130 or so, the rest of them should also.

I'm fairly certain the Packtite will ruin photos, so I'm considering using my nearest (or cheapest) Vikane chamber for those.
hathead

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Sep 16 2009 14:43:47
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i've packtited photos with no bad results

i put a whole album in there or i would bury a single photo between two heavier things so that it doesn't curl up
i would monitor the temp though so that the temps don't go much above 130, just as a safety measure.

that being said, i don't know what your photos are like or how they will respond. some of mine were photos from the early 20th century, in a frame but not under glass. they did fine too.

as a side note, i packtited a bunch of vinyl records. The ones i monitored carefully for temp did ok. the ones that i lost track of actually did warp (they climbed up to over 140 - that was a mistake!!!)
i don't recommend packtiting vinyl records unless you are as paranoid as i was - it was actually the sleeves i suspected, but i got tired of inspecting each one and taking it out of the sleeve and storing it in a tub and got too nervous bugs could come crawling out in the process, so finally just stuck the whole things in there...)
DistressInBrooklyn

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Sep 16 2009 14:43:58
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i've cooked tons of pictures, and they were fine.

pictures that were already in ziploc bags. pictures that were already in albums that i didn't pull apart in order to take the pictures out. pictures in plastic crates of mementos. pictures in frames.

no trouble with them.

however, with some REALLY precious photos (for sentimental purposes) i double-sealed in ziploc bags, and plan to just hold onto for a year. but i feel they would have been fine in the packtite.

i've also cooked DVDs (some with pictures on them, natch) and had no problems playing them later. we tested first with a few DVDs that weren't super important to us.

we did the same thing as BitteninBaltimore with our books. stacked them in there and then just used the probe in the fattest, biggest book in there to make sure they reached the proper temperature.
megan.orange

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Dec 22 2009 2:53:59
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Does this work in the oven also? Do you think? I would hate to get rid of most of my memories and important books
wchicago

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Dec 22 2009 4:00:21
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hi megan
i think the oven would get too hot - what is the lowest setting on your oven? i bet its higher than 140. i know you're in a really rough spot (and sympathies! your situation sounds like such a tough one) - but could you maybe ask your parents for a packtite? $300 is not that much compared to the cost of textbooks and the immeasurable price of potentially irreplaceable photos/scrapbooks. not to mention -it saves hugely on bedbug drycleaning bills, and can save your shoes. really, it can "save" almost anything you can fit in it <word is out on electronics - its not advised BUT several folks on the board have packtited their laptops and they have survived>. when you think about replacement costs for all of those things, $300 seems less expensive.
AlberyaScott

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Jan 25 2010 8:41:17
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absolutely!! either you have to put it in scrapbook or put it in photo album. I must say digital frame is much better
............
"A true scrapbook addict is one who stages scrapbook stickers to match paper she likes."
Author: Unknown
ukulelejack

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Jan 26 2010 9:28:57
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i just did 4-5 loads of books in the Packtite. I stacked them on top of each other and put the probe inside the book that was most in the middle. It took about 3 hours to get to 120-degrees, then an hour more at that temp.

I found that if I put too many books in, the Packtite shut off. Don't freak out if that happens, just reduce the number of books, putting the overflow into a knotted plastic bag until the next load.

There were a few photos in there and they came out ok.