Using cardboard from fabric bolts

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02-07-2012, 10:27 AM

#11

QuiltnNan

Power Poster

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC

Posts: 51,430

i bought a bolt from the store a few weeks ago that was from 2008. the fabric was fine.

02-07-2012, 10:34 AM

#12

Lori S

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Illinois

Posts: 9,312

I had a bolt of white muslin stored on the original cardboard bolt for 20 years. If there was going to be an issue I think I would have seen it show up on pure white fabric.

02-07-2012, 11:22 AM

#13

Monroe

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: New York

Posts: 1,572

How about asking the manufacturers directly, and posting the answers? I asked a rep several years ago, and was told the cores are not acid free- that within 3 - 5 years problems with acid burns would show up. So wrapping the core with another fabric might not be of value long term. There are archival sprays for preserving newsprint- wonder if they would work on the thicker cardboard. Probably better to go with archival foamcore?

02-07-2012, 11:24 AM

#14

ghostrider

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Posts: 4,688

You could always cover them with Contact paper...which IS acid-free.

02-07-2012, 11:48 AM

#15

mississippiqltr

Member

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Bentonia, MS

Posts: 53

Here is a link and a quote from there in regard to storing on cardboard bolts.

http://www.freepatterns.com/content/content.html?content_id=614

"Hello! I work at a quilt shop and would like to pass on a tip. Please tell your readers to never store their stash on cardboard bolts as they are not made from acid-free cardboard. These boards will discolor your fabric if you let it 'age sufficiently on the bolts,' as my friend stated it. I hope this helps."

02-07-2012, 02:29 PM

#16

virtualbernie

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Maryland

Posts: 3,586

Not an answer to acid-free ability but back in the day I was taught to wrap those cores in batting and muslin and use them for light weight portable ironing boards.

02-08-2012, 07:19 AM

#17

AprilG

Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Orfordville, WI

Posts: 363

If in doubt, wrap the cardboard in acid free tissue paper and then the fabric. I have fabric on the original bolts that are fine. I got the fabric second hand at a garage sale. The first owner had it for 5 years in the garage (her fantastic quilting room). The fabric is still strong and not discolored.