To Laminate or not to laminate

[kermie62]

That is the question. I am building up a lot of certificates for births deaths etc and although I try to keep them clean, accidents happen. I recently had a leak of beetroot juice from my lunch box over a certificate for a minor in law which luckily I caught before any damage occurred. (Apart from a decidedly ungoverment pink tint to it now). I have thought of laminating them to protect them but I am worried this may end up damaging them or reducing thier value. I also remember the earlier photo albums with sticky peal back pages and the damage they caused to pictures.

Any advise?>

[Jan1954]

I would not laminate any of mine as I do like to get them out from time to time and peer closely at them, but that's just me. :smile5:

Why not have a rummage amongst the items here (http://www.parishchest.com/shop/index.php?cmd=listlinkeditems&cat=D11056&breadcrumb=Recording+Your+Family+History:Archival+ Boxes%2C+Forms%2C+Books+%26+Binders+listed+by+Prod uct)? There are lots of alternatives.

[Nightryder]

I would advise against laminating certificates, I did it with a couple of my early ones & regreted it, once they are laminated they cannot be scanned or copied, what I do now with every new cert I receive is to is to do a copy, this one I can write on, & the original I keep in a plastic sleeve in a ring binder, this way I can always do another copy if needed. but keep the original clean & safe.

[warncoort]

I print my certificates on photo quality paper,not likely to fall apart.

[Peter Goodey]

No, don't laminate.

Unless it's an 'original' certificate, its value is only the replacement cost and I use normal plastic envelopes for them. If you're more particular, use archive quality acid-free containers.

I would advise scanning everything for working copies.

Also, beetroot and genealogy don't mix :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[MarkJ]

Like the other contributers, I would not laminate documents of this type. Whilst I can see the protection side of things, laminating involves heat, which can damage old delicate papers and photos.
I would go with the suggestion of making a copy for day to day use and storing the originals (especially those old documents rather than certificates which can be obtained again if needs be) in acid free storage. Use the copies for your normal research and keep the originals safely stored away. It may be worth saving copies to your computer - that is what I have done with many of my own docs, scan and save to your PC and perhaps CDs too.

Mark

[Guy Etchells]

No never laminate the glue used could destroy the document also it is a process that cannot be reversed.

Instead encapsulate.
This process envelops the document in polyester the edges of which are then heat sealed. If the process needs to be reversed one edge of the envelope is cut releasing the document.
Cheers
Guy