how to stiffen a creased note

jaus tail

Banned
Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
7,091
Reaction score
430
I got a currency note that is full of creases. It's like tissue paper.

I put it under a pile of books but it's still the tissue paper that it was. I even put it in the freezer, hoping the broken fibers would crystallize, or something like that. But nothing miraculous happened.

Is there anyway I can make it crisp?
 
Last edited:

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,768
Reaction score
4,663
Location
Scotland
You mean like new? Not if it's so worn that it's thin. Why do you want it crisp?
 
Last edited:

jaus tail

Banned
Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
7,091
Reaction score
430
shopkeepers dont accept it otherwise. i had to pay a bill for 190. i paid 200 and he gave 10 back. i asked for other note, but the other 10 notes were equally molested.

i dont know how to repair it. the only option is to wait till next six months and somehow squeeze this note in the bill.
 

kaitie

With great power comes
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
10,992
Reaction score
2,525
What are you using it for? I've got a really good solution that would probably be perfect, but if this is a special currency note, I'd try it on just a plain dollar bill or something first to make sure there are no problems.

First, you can theoretically iron something like that if you put a pillow case under it. My other solution would be methyl cellulose, which isn't the easiest thing to find, but certain art supply stores have it. Generally it's not at a place like Michael's, but Dick Blick's would have it, and some specialty art supply places would as well.

Methyl cellulose is used in book repair, but I use it personally to strengthen and stiffen tissue papers for origami. It works amazingly. Essentially, it comes in a powder form, and you mix a couple of teaspoons with a cup of water and mix it very well (this takes time, and I use a small hand coffee stirrer because the mixing is the hardest part, honestly). Make sure the cup you're using is very clean, btw. The consistency you want is about that of egg whites, so usually you just add more in bits until it gets to the right consistency.

Once it's mixed pretty well, you want to let it sit overnight to really make sure it's properly mixed. It will usually feel a bit thicker and after a stir has a better consistency. You just don't want pockets of white stuff in it still.

Once that's done, put the paper you're working with on a piece of clean glass. Now, bear in mind that the glass-side of the paper might end up with a bit of shine to it at the end of this process. You also want to do this on glass because methyl cellulose is essentially glue, and if you put it on anything other than glass, it's going to stick. Personally, I use my patio doors because they're big enough for big sheets of paper, but really anything glass will work. Also make sure you use a very soft brush to paint on the cellulose because stiff brushes catch the fibers of the paper. I always get the softest thing I can find at the art store and am just gentle with it.

Once it's painted on, let it sit until it's completely dry. If you try to peel it off too soon, it can harm the paper, usually warping it or causing it some odd stretching. Once it's dry, you can very carefully peel it from the glass. I say be careful because depending on how thin the paper is, the edges might be a bit tough to get off, but generally speaking it just comes off very easily.

This works really well for removing creases and smoothing paper out, and it also makes it stronger so it's less likely to be damaged in the future. It's a bit of a process, but for what you're trying to do, it might be your best bet. Just make sure you practice on some different papers first so that you get an idea of how to work with it before you try it on anything precious.

ETA: This would work really well, but because it leaves it a bit shiny on one side, you might have an issue with someone thinking it was counterfeit. I'm also not sure how the counterfeit checks work on a treated bill.
 
Last edited:

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,768
Reaction score
4,663
Location
Scotland
Defacing currency notes is usually a criminal offence.

How did the shopkeeper get the other notes if he doesn't accept them screwed up?

Your simplest course is take it to the nearest Bank or Post Office.
 
Last edited:

mirandashell

Banned
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
16,197
Reaction score
1,889
Location
England
But does that change the feel of the paper? Cos I know I've refused quite a few fivers cos the paper doesn't feel right. Even before I've checked all the security marks.
 

kaitie

With great power comes
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
10,992
Reaction score
2,525
But does that change the feel of the paper? Cos I know I've refused quite a few fivers cos the paper doesn't feel right. Even before I've checked all the security marks.

Hard to say because I've never tried it on money. ;) I was thinking this was more like preserving money from a trip or something, hence my ETA. It probably wouldn't feel quite the same, but the shine would be a problem as well. I'm not sure it would be considered defacing since you're literally just putting something on the paper that adds strength to the fibers, but I could see it being turned down if you were trying to use it as actual currency. For preserving currency, though, it would be rocking.
 

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,768
Reaction score
4,663
Location
Scotland
Very prudent - if a note doesn't 'feel' right it's best not to take it. Even a squashed-up note can still 'feel' right if it's genuine.

But does that change the feel of the paper? Cos I know I've refused quite a few fivers cos the paper doesn't feel right. Even before I've checked all the security marks.
 

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,768
Reaction score
4,663
Location
Scotland
Good luck - I'll be astonished if it isn't accepted and exchanged for a more presentable note. And you shouldn't be charged for such a minute transaction.
 

frimble3

Heckuva good sport
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
11,574
Reaction score
6,396
Location
west coast, canada
Banks get money in bad shape all the time. It gets crumpled, it gets washed, it gets chewed on. Whatever this smashed up note looks like, they've seen others just as bad. They want the identifying numbers to be visible, other than that, it should be acceptable.
 

jaus tail

Banned
Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
7,091
Reaction score
430
It's not of much denomination though. So what if the banker sneers?
 

robjvargas

Rob J. Vargas
Banned
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
6,543
Reaction score
511
Banks will take damaged notes. They have a process for disposal. As long as they can determine that the note is, in fact, valid. I live near a city with a branch of the Federal Reserve. I've seen (they have a small museum to the US dollar) how bad they can be and still be considered valid for circulation. Technically, businesses are even allowed to accept partial notes (I forget how much of the full note they must have).
 

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
16,768
Reaction score
4,663
Location
Scotland
Amount is totally irrelevant. I bet the bank officer didn't even bat an eyelid. Glad you got it changed.
 

jaus tail

Banned
Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
7,091
Reaction score
430
Foreplay? The bank teller didn't act like one of those in the porn movie.