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I have been browsing through the MMD Archives about repairing torn
rolls and have found no mention of the method that I use, so I thought
that I would share it with you.

All the usual methods seem to use a tape but the method I use requires
no tape and therefore there is no build-up in thickness, which can be
a problem especially if most of the role has one damaged edge for most
of its length.  The mended paper behaves as though it had never been
torn.  My method uses the fact that paper tears usually have rough
edges that overlap when aligned properly.

The first step is probably common for most methods and that is to iron
any folds or creases, although this is not essential for the mend.
I then stick the back of the tear to the sticky part of a "Post-it"
note paper and press it completely flat by running the back of my
fingernail along the tear.  On some frail rolls the Post-it is a bit
too sticky, but this is easily toned down by sticking it to a few other
things first.

Using the brush from a bottle of Super Glue, I paint the along just the
tear with a very small amount of the glue.  The brush being almost dry,
the glue gets wicked into the tear.  I use the few seconds that it takes
to dry to again rub the tear with the back of my fingernail to burnish
the mend.  The glue appears to penetrate right through the paper.

The glue does not stick to the sticky part of the Post-it, which can be
carefully peeled off and used again.  Try practicing on some scrap paper
until you get the neatest and strongest mend.

I have used this method successfully on a roll bought from eBay that
was described as "in good condition" but, disappointingly, had one edge
folded over from about four feet onwards and had hundreds of those
little tears running inwards.  Once repaired the edge was perfectly
flat and behaved as a new roll.

This method makes a flexible mend that appears to be as strong, if not
stronger, than the original paper.  When done carefully it adds little,
if any, thickness and the roll suffers none of the problems that a tape
repair can suffer from.  It is also cheap and relatively quick.

I have only used this method for a few months but as yet I have had no
problems with the tear opening up again.  I have even used it to repair
those little bridges of paper that cross long note holes that often
come unzipped, and it works fine.  The only down side is that the paper
becomes transparent where the glue has penetrated and therefore the
method cannot be described as an invisible mend, so the less glue used
the better.

I am sure that I need hardly tell you that this glue will stick your
fingers together very effectively, so take care.

James Black

 [ "Super Glue" cyanoacrylate adhesive is a product of Super Glue
 [ Corporation; see http://www.supergluecorp.com/about.html  -- Robbie