Repairing warped boxes

[SublevelStudios]

I've got a couple of boxes that are bent or warped out of shape and wondered if there was a trick to getting them flattened out. I've heard of some collectors using an iron but there must be a method of getting card nice and flat again.

Any tips?

 

[Michael Sith]

Hi mate

Done a few boxes

http://www.starwarsforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18177&p=252704&hilit=Starch+and+iron#p252704

They do come out better

 

[tiefighterboy]

Spray Starch.

 

[SublevelStudios]

Hi mate

Done a few boxes

http://www.starwarsforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18177&p=252704&hilit=Starch+and+iron#p252704

They do come out better

So do you need to deconstruct the box by undoing the glued edge first?

Do you iron directly onto the box or do you put something between the card and the iron? And can you iron the printed side of the box or will this ruin the print?

Off to get some spray starch...

 

[Michael Sith]

TFB is the master and the original starch tip came from the man.


I use a thin cotton white tea towel, spray the starch on the inside and then iron with a cool iron no steam.
You can do on the printed side but very little starch and quick with the tea towel and iron, but better to do the inside first and see how it goes.

Depends on the box really you have to deconstruct and iron the creases in as well on the angles of the boxes.

Don't overdo the starch in fact I usually spray very lightly not close up so it mists, the tea towel cotton cloth over the top and gently iron, then quick wipe over gently with a clean cotton cloth.

Only do this with badly misshaped boxes though and they are only for me not to sell on.
Every time I do it I do so with trepidation! So not for the squeamish!

Collecting on a budget then this helps for display.

 

[SublevelStudios]

Thanks for that mate

It's mainly the end flaps of my Palitoy Cantina box, they're really curved inwards, would like to try and get them flat if possible, I'll do some tests using this method on some card then I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[tiefighterboy]

I saturate the inside of mine and then put heavy books on them for a week. Michael just refined my approach.

 

[Michael Sith]

:lol: refined your approach, can't beat a bit of plagiarism ( did say it was your idea as the master though ).



It will be good to see how you get on pal

 

[SublevelStudios]

Gave this ago today, although I had no starch so I just sprayed some water evenly over the affected area, then covered it with a thin cotton pillow case, set the iron to medium and gave it a few passes over the card.

Removed the pillowcase, and replaced it with a thick piece of card and laid some weights on top - left for an hour and hey presto - flat!

It's made a real difference to the piece. I'm going to attempt the same method on a Palitoy Landspeeder box and I'll post some before and after pics - provided I don't screw it up and it looks worse!

 

[tiefighterboy]

I think the starch just helps with keeping the form, water would probabaly work as well. Glad to hear this worked out for you.

 

[Michael Sith]

Great stuff, glad it turned out.

The starch stays within the make up of the card and stiffens ( especially on angle creases) where the water will evaporate and not, as Todd rightly points out, keep the form.
So the starch stiffens and lasts longer ( :lol: here we go!)


Yep...put some pics up when you do the next one

 

[SublevelStudios]

Before...

 

[SublevelStudios]

and after...

Still not totally flat, but a massive difference on display

Thanks again fellas.

 

[Michael Sith]

8) super job mate, that looks miles squarer, top job bud.

 

[grinchy]

that looks a hell of a lot better, glad you could save the box, well done

 

[tiefighterboy]

Looking good. I will say that if you were to have used spray starch and let that thing set under some heavy books for a couple weeks, the warp would have been totally gone. Glad to see people bringing boxes back to life. 8)

 

[SublevelStudios]

Looking good. I will say that if you were to have used spray starch and let that thing set under some heavy books for a couple weeks, the warp would have been totally gone. Glad to see people bringing boxes back to life. 8)

I will certainly look out for spray starch next time I'm out Todd. I'll keep my eye on the boxes to see if they revert back to their warped shape.

If it hadn't of worked, I could have always bought a replicator box :wink:

 

[tiefighterboy]

Looking good. I will say that if you were to have used spray starch and let that thing set under some heavy books for a couple weeks, the warp would have been totally gone. Glad to see people bringing boxes back to life. 8)

I will certainly look out for spray starch next time I'm out Todd. I'll keep my eye on the boxes to see if they revert back to their warped shape.

If it hadn't of worked, I could have always bought a replicator box :wink:

At least the vintage boxes hold up to water. Ormes the ink would run. :lol:

 

[SublevelStudios]

And then fade to nothing after 2 weeks on a shelf

 

[Pomse2001]

It could be cool to see a video of how you guys iron this boxes :wink:

I have a few boxes I need to iron, but would love to see another do it before I do it