Laminator

[sandmaster]

I wish to preserve a very old tattered document. It is about 150 years old. I am considering laminating it but know little about the process. Do the two sides of the pocket become sticky during the process and therefore stick to the document as well as forming a seal? It may be that in many years to come someone may need to recover the document but it may be damaged by the process.

[bobbinwales]

Try it with another (but less important) document. Have used one here and think its just the plastic bit's that stick where the touch

[zebo]

Yes the document is stuck to the laminating pocket so I wouldn't do it.

[Buenchico]

Yes, the pouches become bonded to the pouches.

Preserve the document in a different way but make a copy of it first (which you can then laminate if you want to). That leaves the content of the document accessible to all but keeps the original out of harm's way.

[bobbinwales]

Actually would agree 100% with zebo if you will need the original at some stage, but if you just want to be able to read it you could take a photocopy or preserve it but you can do that in other ways

[woofgang]

do as little as you can to the document and do nothing that cannot be undone. If its worth spending money you can get archival pouches and deacidifying spray to stop the organic acid in the paper destroying the document. good place here https://www.my-history.co.uk/acatalog/Full_Polypocket_And_Acid-Free_Card_Range.html

[sandmaster]

Many thanks to all who answered. I have taken woofgang's advice and ordered archival pouches. I will copy the documents and laminate the copies so my new machine will not be wasted!