How To Repair Record Jackets

If y'all purchase a lot of used records, y'all'll surely have encountered a record jacket or encompass with a ripped or split up seam. Aside from looking unsightly, split seams pose a real headache for collectors as the tape can easily autumn out of the sleeve, causing damage.

Split seams are extremely mutual, and there are several ways to approach fixing a record jacket. The most common and crude method is to use record across the outside of the record cover, but that's non what we're going to recommend.

Using household viscous tape to fix an album embrace is a terrible idea. Firstly, it has a trend to neglect over time, but most importantly, information technology spoils the look of your album artwork. Even clear tape is very visible and will yellow over fourth dimension, causing information technology to damage the album's aesthetic farther. Worse of all, it cannot exist removed without permanent damage to the album comprehend print.

Have a look at this original pressing of The Beatles A Hard Days Nighttime, which was stock-still past its previous owner using tape. Aside from this album cover fix, the record is in bully shape for its age. Sadly, there is nothing I tin exercise almost the unsightly tape.

The Best Fashion to Fix an Album Encompass Split Seam

The method we recommend volition depend on the kind of seam yous need to gear up.

Tape Seams with Internal Folds

If your seam has an internal fold and the glue has simply failed over time, then yous can easily set up the record jacket using 3M double-sided tape.

Alternatively, you tin can utilize glue to re-seal the cover, but this risks spreading gum to unwanted places. The 3M record is much cleaner and safer, forming a strong, invisible bond. Check the size of your fold before ordering double-sided record, as you want to be certain the tape is no wider than the internal flap. In my example, I'm using one/two inch (12mm) wide record.

Fixing a Folded Seam

As per the instance beneath, a continuous folded seam with no internal flap presents a different challenge. We tin can't just use potent double-sided record as this volition reduce the size of our jacket and prevent the record from sliding in and out. In this case, we need to re-build the seam, and the cleanest, well-nigh straightforward way to do this is by installing a Seamzeazy record jacket repair strip.

Seamzeazy (the company) makes structural adhesive strips that replace the edge of a damaged record jacket from the within (without the need for tape or glue).

Step-past-Step:

Fourth dimension needed:x minutes.

Step One:
Take ane repair strip and skin away the white strip.
Step Two:

Fold the strip and line information technology up with edge of the tape jacket.
Stride Iii:

One time you lot're happy with the position, press down and so the adhesive sticks to the dorsum cover so repeat the aforementioned process for the forepart cover.
Step Iv:

Use a roller of you have one to confirm the seal. The Seamzeazy strip now replaces the folded corner to course a well-nigh invisible repair.
Further Tips:

Make sure you're 100% happy with the position of your strip earlier you commit, every bit the adhesive is potent. Y'all tin likewise further clean upwards the edge by using very fine sandpaper to remove any flaking paper.

The Lesser Line:

Part of the joy of record collecting is the beautiful artwork and the sense of preserving a slice of music history for future generations to enjoy. It'southward always a shame when an original pressing is permanently damaged by slap-dash repairs using tape. It's far more sympathetic to employ a tasteful repair where possible and retain the integrity of an album cover. Staying articulate of glue and tape with the employ of adhesive strips is the safest way to perform a discreet repair.

The Seamzeasy strips brand repairing seamless folds unproblematic and easy. They're readily available in N America, but Britain and Eu customers may have to get creative with their own card and adhesive tape to perform a similar repair. Cheque their website out beneath for more particular or follow the Amazon link to buy a pack today:

Amazon Production Link

seamzeazy.com