Anyone know how to get glued photos out of an old photo album?

[Ruth n Jersey]

My friend gave me a really nice photo holder for Christmas. It hold over 1600 pictures. My photo albums have been well taken care of over the years. Some from the 30's. My problem is that my Grandmother glued them all in. Now the black paper they have been glued to is brittle and falling apart. I would like to remove them, date them etc. and put them in my new holder. I just don't know how to get them off the old paper. I had several photos of animals from a zoo from years ago that I didn't mind sacrificing. I tried heat, soaking, baking, vinegar. Nothing works. If they made glue like that today, they would really have something. Any suggestions? All these photos are black and white, not sure if that matters.

 

[jujube]

I've had the same problem with old albums. If the paper is thick enough, you might be able to separate the layers. I've had some luck doing that. Hopefully, the pictures are only pasted on one side of the paper. In that case, I've just cut the pictures out, paper and all.

 

[hollydolly]

Ruth I know exactly the type of glue and paper backing you're talking about...and like Jujube I've had to resort to cutting out the picture, paper backing and all to prevent damage...then scanning them into my computer and printing on top quality photo paper before restoring into something more suitable


If it was those magnetic sticky backed glued album pages, it would be an easier job...but apparently the scrap booking type albums that so many of us have are impossible to remove....have a read of this link...


http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/removingphotos.htm

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

Thanks to both of you. Unfortunately, many photos are on the opposite side. I will try separating the layers suggested by jujube.the link you provided hollydolly,mentioned dentil floss. I will try that as well.

 

[Mike]

Hi Ruth, There are several ways to get rid of glue and
I see that you have tried some ways.

You are going to get rid of the old album anyway, so
cut off one page, put it in a couple of plastic bags
and freeze it for a day or so to see if the glue will
shatter.

How much heat did you use I wonder. Try a hair dryer
and keep blowing on one picture for a while, that
might do the trick.

Alcohol, try some vodka, if you have any, to see if it
will loosen the glue. If you have no vodka, or if it does
work, you don't want to waste vodka on this job, so the
real stuff that you want if alcohol is the answer, is
"isopropyl alcohol", this is the stuff for cleaning electronics
and id does remove "Hot Glue".

I will have a look around some of my books and see if I can
find an answer for you.

Good Luck.

Mike.

 

[nitelite]

I have tried the freezing and the heat from a hair dryer for different 'sticky' projects and they worked just fine. Good luck.