Abraham Armenta has a dilemma: his two-year-old decided to manually redact the book of 1 John 3. The question is, how to repair the damage? I haven't faced this problem myself, so I did a little searching online and came up with a couple of tutorials:
(a) How to repair a torn page (b) A Simple Book Repair Manual: Torn Pages
The trick seems to be in using document repair tape. Since I haven't done it, though, I'm wondering if anyone else out there has experience repairing torn Bible pages? Are there better techniques? Any special considerations when it comes to India paper? Please share!
UPDATE: Thanks to Matt Blair, we now have a pictorial of the process. Check out Matt's Flickr photo-set Fixing a torn page for an object lesson in how it's done. Matt also used his aforementioned method of adding ribbons to add three to his Deluxe Compact ESV, so check out those pictures, too.
I believe that this is only good for a tear without part of the page missing. I tried something like the first option, and it was a thin, clear tape. When I tried using it to replace the missing paper, it ended up making the tear larger. Maybe someone knows if I am correct on this, that the tape is clear.
Posted by: Brian Fox | May 28, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I have repaired using japanese paper and acid free glue. I have never had any problems as I follow direction the people at my local library suggusted. As found in these articles.
Posted by: mike smith | May 28, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Mental note made...just in case!
Posted by: Michael Swoveland | May 28, 2008 at 08:43 PM
What a great find. Last night I had one of my young people open the service for me, and as I was sitting in the seat, following along in my Bible, there was an awful sound coming from the page. It went something like "rip". Thankfully, it's just a small tear of less than a 1/4". Where does one get some of the tape mentioned in Mark's post? I don't want to buy a large roll, but will if I have to. Thanks.
Pastor Ron
Posted by: Ron Parish | May 29, 2008 at 04:34 AM
Those torn or marked pages will bring back delightful memories in fifteen or twenty years; gently repair them, but not too much.
Posted by: Rob Quanstrom | May 29, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Well . . . I guess giving away the two-year-old isn't a good option . . .
I'm afraid for me if this were a substantial tear I'd have to bite the bullet and replace the book. Either that or just retire it and use a different one.
I've tried repairing some pages in out-of-print books with Scotch brand archival repair tape, and I'm usually not happy with the results. It's hard to make the repair truly smooth, and for some reason I'm really skilled at getting wrinkles in the tape.
The Japanese paper/paste technique seems way beyond me . . .
Alex
Posted by: Lee Miller | May 29, 2008 at 06:43 PM
For what it's worth, NO repair that can be done will ever be 100% invisible...I don't care how skilled you are.
I've even seen some repairs done by archivists that are still pretty visible.
Posted by: matthew | May 29, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Unforunately, the rip was in my Mechling rebound La Biblia de las Americas :(
Posted by: Abraham | May 30, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I repaired a small tear (perhaps a quarter inch) in a well used and much favored Bible years ago, Psalms I think. In good light and up close I could see the thin torn slightly leafy part and its thicker counterpart. Using a small needle and a miniscule portion of faster drying clear glue I carefully and slightly coated only the thicker edge then gently but quickly laid the opposite piece into it, pressed gently and slid my fingers up off the page. There was insignificant glue residue and the paper did not stick to my fingers. All I can say is that I did it once, and it was a wonderful result to behold. That Bible is worn out now and sits spine down on a shelf. Thanks old friend.
Posted by: Conrad Carter | May 07, 2012 at 03:18 PM
All I would add Conrad, is that when gluing, instead of taping torn pages, that a couple sheets of wax paper be used on both sides until glue is completely cured.
Posted by: bill | May 11, 2012 at 12:27 AM
Bible pages are very thin so when you fix it get a very small bit ok wav and that will keep it together and put some thing to stop the wax sticking to the other pages
Posted by: Sasha | October 10, 2012 at 12:58 PM
The glued edge of a cigarette paper is an option. Nice and thin to allow print to show through as well!
Posted by: Mark Hendley | February 25, 2013 at 07:35 AM