For this reason it is easiest to use strips not more than two inches long. For longer tears, several short strips may be used, placed end to end. It will take practice to manipulate the thin, wet repair strips. Tap the repair lightly. If possible, weight the repair while it dries.
Weighting insures good adhesion and prevents cockling of the paper.
Sandwich these and the mend between pieces of blotter. The weights may be small bags of lead shot or pieces of lead covered with cloth. One pound fishing weights from sporting good stores make excellent weights provided they have at least one flat side to prevent rolling. Repairs should be weighted for one hour or longer. A photographer's tacking iron, placed on a low to medium setting, can be used to speed up the drying process.