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I scored some charts maybe 15-20 there from there circa 1970's of Lake Ontario area. Im looking for some advice on storing them. I don't plan on using them or storing them on my boat anytime soon. Im thinking storing them between plexi-glass and acid free paper for the time being.
Maybe display one or two someday. I don't sail Ontario and my Catalina 22 is way to small to keep them aboard.
Foamcore, sold in art supply and even Walmart, may be acid free. if not oyu can still line it with acid-free paper. It is fairly rigid and inexpensive. You may also be able to get an inexpensive "portfolio case" in an art or drafting supply, that's basically a big flat "wallet" with a zipper closure and handle, that artists used to carry their portfolio samples around in. Advantage being that you can zip & unzip and carry by handle, repeatedly. And again, not expensive.
When I go south I store my BC charts in a big plastic garbage bag with moth balls. Moth balls prevent any mold from growing. It also works for cold weather clothes. An hour or two of drying out gets rid of the smell.
Roll the charts loosely and store them in a 4" PVC tube of sufficient length with end caps . Get some flower drying salts at a garden center and put that in a cloth bag and put it into the tube. There you go archival storage.
If you're not intending using the charts, rolling them in a tube is one way to store them but if they're rolled for any length of time and you want to unroll them to use them on a chart table, they will be unruly and unmanageable. I personally wouldn't roll charts for storage or any other reason.
Charts are made of very good paper (at least the Admiralty charts I use are) and unless they get damp/wet, they really don't need special care. If you're storing them at home in a warm/dry environment, just folding them nicely will keep them looking good. I have many charts from trips all over the world that have nice memories on them and thus don't get discarded, they're in a cupboard at home, folded and stacked for many years now and when we take them out for discussions about the voyages, they're still like new. I fold mine so that the name of the chart can be referenced by thumbing through the stack. If not done this way, the whole stack has to be disturbed to find the chart you want.
If however the charts you have are following the common trend these days of being photocopies, I have no advice other than to ditch them
This guy said he wanted to use the charts for art. Folding them will create creases, destroying the art concept. I'd fold them for use on a boat as space is limited, but for art you do not want creases. You can always draw them across a table edge to remove the roll.
Also for paper storage you need a dry place, inside a tube with some drying compound is the way to go.
I was wandering an old marine shop years ago and lucked onto an old (1940s) chart of the area on the central BC coast where I grew up. A tad stained, but not torn. Interesting too because there are a few areas on the chart that were not yet surveyed.
Anyhow picked it up for the $5 bill I had in my pocket, took it to a frame shop and it's been hanging in our home ever since. A good conversation piece and good for the occasional reminiscence and planning of a return...
I have charts of Alaska that John brought home from his time in the CG. I'm going to frame them. I like the creases and whatnot because it shows that they were used. To me, that adds to the "art" part of it.
"Maybe display one or two someday. I don't sail Ontario and my Catalina 22 is way to small to keep them aboard.
Thanks,
matt"
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