The restoration of the icon is simply necessary if it is very many years old, and over time it has lost its original appearance. This is especially true of family heirlooms, which are transmitted from one generation to another.
The images eventually become more fragile and are able to deteriorate from sudden changes in temperature, from increased humidity or dry air. Old icons, the restoration of which can be carried out independently or entrusted to a specialist, should be stored carefully even after this procedure, so that in the future these problems do not arise so quickly.
Common problems
The restoration of the icon is a very serious and responsible step. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to give it to professionals. It is also very important to timely and correctly recognize a particular problem.
The most common are:
- the board is dry under the influence of dry air;
- cracks appear;
- deformation;
- paint begins to crumble;
- under the influence of humidity, the image is covered with mold or fungus.
It is necessary to correctly identify the degree of damage, and then a timely restoration of the icon will be required so as not to lose it at all later. Often there are problems with the salary of the image, which eventually oxidizes and turns green, which significantly spoils the appearance of the icon. In this case, you can’t remove it yourself, as awkward actions can do even more harm.
Many experts believe that restoration of the icon at home by unprepared people cannot be qualitatively performed, therefore, if you do not have such experience, it is better to give the shrine to professionals. If you have previously done at least a little of this, you can try to put it in order yourself.
Working solutions
Do-it-yourself restoration of icons is done through the use of special emulsions. Each of them has its own purpose:
- fish glue is used when fixing the paint layer, restoration of wooden parts of icons and for preventive gluing;
- beeswax dissolved in gasoline helps to process the ends of the wooden part of the structure;
- wax mastics of different contents are used for peeling paint and for lagging soil. With their help, the wooden part is restored and cracks are closed;
- an alcohol solution is used to strengthen images that have been lying in a humid room for a long time;
- DDT solution helps when the icon is hit by insects;
- emulsion based on water and yolk strengthens the paint when peeling in the form of blisters;
- surfactant water solution is used to clean the dirt on the surface of the icon.
Features of processing an image affected by microbes
Most often, the lesion focuses on the surface. The restoration of the icon in such a case consists in disinfection and preservation. That is, in surface treatment, followed by the introduction of toxic substances inside, in order to destroy microorganisms.
It should be remembered that when working it is very important to observe safety measures. Be sure to tape the cuts or wounds in open areas of the skin, do not forget to put on a bathrobe and wash your hands after the procedure.
Features of preventive bonding
Restoration of ancient icons includes a stage that is a temporary solution for the preservation of certain deformations, in order to prevent their subsequent development.
So, gluing is applied for a period of a month to 3 years, it all depends on the degree of damage to the product and its storage conditions. It is impossible to exceed the deadline, otherwise the icon may undergo additional destruction. If there is a need to extend it, the gluing needs to be changed.
This process is carried out through special working solutions of alcohol and tissue paper. Any of its other species can cause severe shrinkage and disrupt already weak soil. The work is carried out with a wide bristle brush, roller and a wet swab.
If mold is present on the surface, then gluing should be applied only after alcohol treatment. The paper should be cut into small leaves, the size of which depends on the degree of destruction of the icon and its appearance. Glue is applied to the surface with a brush so that it is covered evenly, while a lot of glue is not needed. The main thing is that after drying the film does not appear, which can cause peeling of the paint.
Progress
Next, put the leaf on the surface, straighten it with a roller, without pressing. Pierce it with a surgical probe so that the tape is fully pressed.
It must be removed in the future either by steaming or by means of a wet swab. If it was initially applied correctly, it will move away without problems. If not, you need to use a special spatula, but here you should look so as not to spoil the icon. Categorically, no glue should remain on its surface.
How to strengthen soil and paint
Restoration of the icon may include strengthening activities. After all, its parts are subject to cracking, lagging of the soil and its damage, scratches, mold, cracks, burns and much more.
To fix the paint during peeling or swelling, you need to process the surface of the icon with alcohol using a soft brush. The movements should be smooth, while watching that there is a lot of solution, otherwise fragments of the colorful layer of the art part may shift with each other, and you will damage the image.
The impregnation must be repeated if the alcohol is highly absorbed. After about half an hour, saturate the place of strengthening with fish glue using a brush. Remove residual alcohol from the peripheral part with a wet swab.
Saturate the surface with glue so that it saturates it evenly. Depending on the rate of absorption, work will take up to 20 minutes.
After a couple of hours, apply preventive gluing with fish glue and squeeze it with a squeezed swab. If there are long hard swelling of the paint, then they should be laid with a fluoroplastic spatula.
Half an hour after gluing, iron the surface with a warm iron through filtered paper and fluoroplastic. You need to remove it after 10 days. To do this, moisten the area with a warm swab based on cotton wool and gauze, so that everything is slightly warmed up.
How to remove surface contaminants
Restoration of home icons rarely implies professional and painstaking work, because not everyone will be able to prepare a special cleaning solution and perform high-quality gluing when necessary.
But you can remove dirt from the surface of the image even to a person who does not have special skills. Indeed, the icons, unfortunately, eventually collect dust and other pollution on themselves.
How to remove dirt?
But cleaning the icon with a regular rag and water is also not possible. To work, prepare the following:
- aqueous surfactant solution (for example, "Progress");
- emulsion against pollution;
- turpentine or gasoline;
- special solvents;
- soft brush (squirrel recommended);
- scalpel;
- dry cotton swabs;
- swabs moistened with alcohol.
Using the listed tools and tools, gently wipe the icon. There are different methods for cleaning it, they depend on the type and intensity of contamination, as well as on its location and the general condition of the product.
For example, removing dust, soot, wax or soot is best done with an aqueous solution. In it or emulsion, moisten the brush and treat the surface with rotational movements. Then wipe it with a dry swab. If even after this there will remain compacted dirt, remove them mechanically, but so that this does not damage the image.
So, first we remove the wax with a scalpel, and then we dissolve its remains with gasoline, colorful sprays are removed using special solvents, and litter or lime must be cleaned with a scalpel, while doing this as carefully as possible.
Restoration of the icon is far from everyone's strength. It is one thing to remove small impurities, and quite another to deal with cracks and deformation. So, if you are not sure that you can do it and want to keep the heirloom for centuries, then it is better to contact a recovery specialist.