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Comic Book Pressing & Cleaning

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The Comic Book Press – Not All Created Equal!

March 2, 2020 By admin 2 Comments

Which Comic Book Press is Best?

I am often asked by my clients what sort of comic book press I use when pressing comic books.  I assume that their curiosity comes from one of two places. First, they want to try pressing comics for themselves and second,  they are just the curious sort.  As a member of a few comic book pressing Facebook groups, and having read articles and  watched  “how to videos” on YouTube , I can honestly say that there are both good and bad tips on how to press comics available on-line.  That said,  I am all for people trying to press their own books.  Heck, it is kind of fun – but it isn’t for the faint of heart.  So,  for all those of you who want to try it for yourself and for those of you who are just plain curious, I am going to give a brief run-down of the presses I use when pressing comic books.

I do not use t-shirt presses for pressing comic books

Yes, they are affordable and readily available, but, if you want a good press, steer clear of these tempting presses for pressing comic books.  They deliver the heat, and most modern models have digital thermostats, which are great, but they just don’t deliver the pressure needed.  You need a dry mount press, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Seal Commercial Presses

Seal Commercial 200s (23” x 18.5”/ approx 75lbs): These are great presses that deliver a nice even pressure and make a great comic book press.  They heat up wonderfully and can

Comic Book Press
Seal Commercial 200s (23” x 18.5” approx 75lbs)

maintain a consistent heat if configured correctly. The Seal Commercial 200 is an old model, which dates back to the mid 1970s I Believe.  Often times the power cord is damaged/ frayed and may need replacing.  The ones I have found usually have rotten or deteriorating pads, which also need to be replaced.  The original thermostat is likely still installed, so it will have to be replaced or serviced as well. If the thermostat is faulty, the temperature can spike and damage your comic books.  Parts for these models are not readily available and are quite expensive.  A new thermostat, for example is around $100 cad.  You can buy the entire press for this much if you shop around.   These presses also do not have a temperature gauge, so you will need a digital thermometer for pressing comic books.  Adjusting pressure on this model is difficult.

A Newer Model

Seal Commercial 210M (23” x 18.5”/ approx 75lbs): A newer version of the Commercial 200.

pressing comic books
Seal Commercial 210M

Sleeker design with allows for much easier pressure adjustment.  Analog temperature read out.  Since this design was used for most all of Seal’s machines from the 1980s-present, they can be found in various conditions.  The pads, platens and overall mechanics should be inspected thoroughly, as replacement parts for these are also quite expensive.  These usually sell anywhere from $250-$700 cad on the secondary market, depending on condition and are an excellent comic book press.

Seal Masterpiece 360M (26” x 34 “ platen/ 300 lbs): Same as the 210M, but much bigger!   This machine can press several comic books at once, and is extremely heavy.  These machines, or similar models, sell for approximately $700-$1000 cad on the secondary market.

Bienfang Masterpiece 550 (26” x 34” platen/ 320 lbs):  Another beast.  This machine is still being manufactured and is digital which allows

Press
Bienfang Masterpiece 550

for precise temperature control.  The controls also include a digital timer. This machine, or the smaller version, is a must for the serious comic book presser.  $3500 cad on the secondary market. $6800 cad new.

Different Names Same Press

These are the machines I employ on a regular basis for pressing comic books.  While the bigger presses can cover more ground, I still prefer to use a smaller press for pressing comic books.  Seal and Bienfang produced the same machines, with different model numbers/ identification.  Sort of like how the Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar were pretty much the same car.  Other companies also produced dry mount presses that will also deliver an excellent comic book press, such as Drytac models.  These, however are very heavy and cumbersome in comparison to the models outlined above.

If you need your comic books pressed, feel free to contact the Comic Doctor.

Filed Under: Press, Pressing Tagged With: Comic Book Press, comic book pressing, pressing comic books

Top 10 Pressed Comics of 2015

January 25, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

As 2015 wrapped up, I thought it would be fun to list the top 10 comic books submitted for pressing and cleaning over the course of the year.  I base the list below on how often a specific  comic book issue has been submitted over the course of the last year.  Since January of 2015, I have worked on the following comic books the most.  Many thanks to all of the customers who have submitted comics to the doctor, since it was your submissions that make up the list. So, without further ado, here we go

#10 – Avengers 196

Avengers 196

1st full appearance of Taskmaster. Lots of anticipation surrounds this character’s arrival in one of the upcoming Captain America/ Marvel films. He is certainly a fan favourite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9 – Marvel Premiere 47

Marvel Premiere 47

The popularity of this particular comic was fueled by Marvel’s hit Movie Ant-Man, which was released in the summer of 2015.  As anticipation for the film grew and grew, customers submitted this comic to me on a very regular basis.  It features the 1st appearance of Scott Laing as Ant-Man.

 

 

 

 

 

#8 – New Teen Titans 2

New Teen Titans 2

The 1st appearance of Deathstroke.  This DC baddie has been featured on the CWs Arrow, but no appearances of the character DCs Cinematic Universe has been confirmed/ announced,   although there has been lots of rumours about a Teen Titans film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#7 – Amazing Spider-Man 300

Amazing Spider-Man 300Amazing Spider-Man 300 – Venom’s 1st appearance continues to be a very common patient in my office. Being penciled by Todd McFarlane makes the comic even more desirable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#6 – Giant Size X-Men 1

Giant Size X-Men 1The 1st appearance of the new X-Men team continues to be a very  popular submission. I guess that is to be expected considering the team overhaul really catapulted the X-Men title to the forefront. The addition of fan favourites like Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and of course, Wolverine reinvented the team for a new generation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#5 – Preacher 1

Preacher 1

It’s a done deal. The AMC series hits TV screens in a few months. This fact has obviously fueled interest in this book. The value for high grade copies have spiked significantly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4 – The Walking Dead 1

Walking Dead 1The AMC series is still a smash hit and zombies are hot – hot – hot!  This comic has been on fire for years and high grade copies continue to demand strong dollars. I am happy to say I have helped quite a few reach the coveted 9.8 grade!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3 – New Mutants 98

New Mutants 98Deadpool’s 1st appearance has been gaining momentum for years.  Anticipation for the upcoming film has fans dishing out top dollar for high grade copies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 – Amazing Spider-Man 129

Amazing Spider-Man 129The Punisher’s 1st appearance remains a must have for die-hard Marvel fans.  The recent announcement of the Punisher joining the Netflix hit, Daredevil, has increased interest even more!  I pressed and cleaned four or five of my own copies this year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1  – Incredible Hulk 181

Hulk 181

This bronze age grail features the 1st appearance of Wolverine, arguably one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe.  Even lower grade copies of this book fetch good money.  Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Logan in Fox’s popular X-Men film series has really increased the characters notoriety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well there you have it.  The top 10 books to come through my “office” over the last year.  I am curious to see if the same books will appear on this list in 12 months or so.  I have a feeling a few will remain on the list.  Once again, many thanks to all of my customers for submitting your comic books to me this past year.  I certainly hope to work with you again in 2016!  Happy new year!

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Collecting Tips, Comic Book News Tagged With: comic book pressing, comics for sale, hot comics

Mark Hamill Talks Star Wars

July 7, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Mark Hamill on Playing Luke Skywalker Again!

Mark Hamill Talks Star Wars
Mark Hamill Talks Star Wars

Since the news of the Star Wars movie hit the net, Mark Hamill has been talking about welding his light saber once more as he returns to the Star Wars universe. Hamill has since also revealed that that he feels it will be very difficult for the next chapter in the Star Wars cinematic line up live up to the hype.
At a recent interview, Hamill said “I have this feeling that no matter what we do there’s going to be a faction that really is disappointed. You just can’t live up to that.”
Regardless of what fans will think, Hamill is starting to get into playing Luke Skywalker again. “I’ve altered my diet. I’ve started working out,” he explained. “But on the film itself: I toured departments, I’ve looked at wardrobe, and I saw the creature shop. I went around and met all the cast people, saw the technicians working on some new things.
And it seems a real highlight for Hamill has been reuniting with his cast mate from the earlier films: “I hadn’t seen Tony Daniels or Carrie [Fisher] or Harrison [Ford] or Peter Mayhew in ages… it was wonderful to see them again, because I didn’t expect to. Again, this is all so unexpected. It’s like getting out that pair of pants you haven’t worn in five years and finding a 20-dollar bill in the pocket!”
Hamill  insists that he will not provide any teasers for the next highly anticipated Star Wars film … “This is a whole different world” he explained. “The first one no one cared. The second one there was a lot of interest, but it was before the internet… I tell people we’re not trying to annoy you or tease you or play some massive game. Basically, what the goal is [is] to keep the surprises for the movie instead of spoiling them on the internet.”

Star Wars Force Awakens
Opens December 18, 2015

Original Star Wars Comics – Hot Hot Hot!

As December approaches, fans of the original Marvel Comics adaptation (and even those discovering it for the first time) of Star Wars have been snapping up copies from the series.   And while issue number 1 is usually on the radar for most collectors, I have found that issues 42 and 68, both featuring Boba Fett, are also in high demand.  The Comic Doctor has worked on countless Star Wars comic books, and I anticipate many more will be worked on before Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theatres in five months.  If you have a Star Wars comic that has seen better days, perhaps I can help – give The Comic Doctor a call.

Perhaps one of your Star Wars comics looks like the one in the following gallery.  Check out what can be done, even to comics with pretty bad defects.  And take a look at more before and after samples here:

All
Before
After
Star Wars 1 Cover Before
Star Wars 1 Cover Before
BEFORE
Star Wars 1 Cover Before
Star Wars 1 Cover After
Star Wars 1 Cover After
AFTER
Star Wars Cover After
Star Wars Top Corner Before
Star Wars Top Corner Before
BEFORE
Star Wars Top Corner Before
Star Wars Top Corner After
Star Wars Top Corner After
AFTER
Star Wars Top Corner After
Star Wars 1 Spine Roll Before
Star Wars 1 Spine Roll Before
BEFORE
Star Wars 1 Spine Roll Before
Star Wars 1 Spine Roll After
Star Wars 1 Spine Roll After
AFTER
Star Wars 1 Spine Roll After

 

Star Wars
Top: Recent submission of 25 Star Wars #1s from a local collector. Bottom: The Boba Fett Issues – #s 42 & 68.

 

Filed Under: Comic Book News, Comic Books in the Movies, Press, Pressing Tagged With: comic book pressing, comic books, force awakens, mark hamill, star wars

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The Comic Doctor is located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
You can also reach me by phone at 905-449-5680. The best time to call is after 3:30 pm.

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The Amazing Spider-Man – Top 10 Issues

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CGC Submissions

Submitting to CGC

The Comic Doctor is an authorized CGC dealer and as such can submit comics on your behalf to CGC.    The following is important information regarding our submission service. Your books ship within two weeks of being pressed!   No waiting for large bulk … Read more

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