Best Way to Air Out Smokey-Smelling Instruction Manuals?

[Joe Redifer]

When collecting vintage stuff is your hobby, you sometimes get things that came from some loser who smokes and it hits you like a freight train when you open the package.  Airing out the box and cartridges/cards are all pretty easy and quick.  But with the instructions, I find that the only way to properly do this is to open it to the first page, leave it outside for an hour or so.  Open it to the second page... another hour.  And so on for the entire manual.  Takes forever.  Is there any magical method that I am not thinking of that could be used?

[Black Tiger]

When collecting vintage stuff is your hobby, you sometimes get things that came from some loser who smokes and it hits you like a freight train when you open the package.  Airing out the box and cartridges/cards are all pretty easy and quick.  But with the instructions, I find that the only way to properly do this is to open it to the first page, leave it outside for an hour or so.  Open it to the second page... another hour.  And so on for the entire manual.  Takes forever.  Is there any magical method that I am not thinking of that could be used?

I once got a boxed TG-16, Turbo Stick and Turbo Booster from a guy who kept them stored with moth balls.

All I could do was let them sit out in the open unpacked for a long time. Cigarrete smoke is probably a lot worse and I can't imagine how you could get around doing it one page at a time(or that just airing them out even works). 

[Bonknuts]

A negative ion generator will do the trick

[guyjin]

if you work at a hotel (or know someone who does) you might borrow their room ozone-er (there's probably a more technical term, but i don't know it)

They use these things when someone smokes in a room but shouldn't, or someone wants a nonsmoking room and all that's left is smoking. they work pretty well from what i remember. perhaps you could arrange to have your goods 'accidentally' left in such a room while it's being de-stunk.

if you somehow bring one home, don't stand in the room with it; it's dangerous.

[esteban]

When collecting vintage stuff is your hobby, you sometimes get things that came from some loser who smokes and it hits you like a freight train when you open the package.  Airing out the box and cartridges/cards are all pretty easy and quick.  But with the instructions, I find that the only way to properly do this is to open it to the first page, leave it outside for an hour or so.  Open it to the second page... another hour.  And so on for the entire manual.  Takes forever.  Is there any magical method that I am not thinking of that could be used?

Would it be possible to fan out the pages (to increase the surface area) and put a fan at LOW speed in front of it to increase air circulation?

I had a box of magazines that got wet. I set up several fans and sandwhiched thin pieces of styrofoam between them to "fan out the pages". You can probably use any sort of "filler" to prop the pages open.

Also, baking soda is supposed to absorb smells, so another option (I've never tried this) is to throw the manual + box of baking soda in an airtight container and wait for the magic to happen! Try to get a large surface area of baking soda, since that makes it more effective (this is my own speculation, but it's got to be scientifically valid, dammit!).

[Hobo Xiphas]

I don't know how to get smoke out of manuals, but time managed to get rid of the dog poop smell of my Altered Beast and Sonic manuals.  It took about, uhh, 10 years though.  I don't know if you want to wait that long.

This is a question to ask Marty Goldberg at the next Midwest Gaming Classic, he knows all the tricks!  The solution will probably involve peanut butter.

[Keranu]

I really wish Marty Goldberg would come back and post a cure for this .

[Joe Redifer]

Just having a member with a name like "Marty Goldberg" would enhance this forum by at least 43%.

[Keranu]

Just having a member with a name like "Marty Goldberg" would enhance this forum by at least 43%.

Oh but we do! Check out martyg's username. Be sure to check out his debut post in the Midwest Gaming Classic thread!

Oh please, Marty - come back!

[Joe Redifer]

A member name of "martyg" only enhances the forum 14.7%

[Keranu]

A member name of "martyg" only enhances the forum 14.7%

I think as long as it's the actual Marty Goldberg posting, then the forum would have enhanced at least 43%.

[Black Tiger]

When collecting vintage stuff is your hobby, you sometimes get things that came from some loser who smokes and it hits you like a freight train when you open the package.  Airing out the box and cartridges/cards are all pretty easy and quick.  But with the instructions, I find that the only way to properly do this is to open it to the first page, leave it outside for an hour or so.  Open it to the second page... another hour.  And so on for the entire manual.  Takes forever.  Is there any magical method that I am not thinking of that could be used?

Would it be possible to fan out the pages (to increase the surface area) and put a fan at LOW speed in front of it to increase air circulation?

I had a box of magazines that got wet. I set up several fans and sandwhiched thin pieces of styrofoam between them to "fan out the pages". You can probably use any sort of "filler" to prop the pages open.

Also, baking soda is supposed to absorb smells, so another option (I've never tried this) is to throw the manual + box of baking soda in an airtight container and wait for the magic to happen! Try to get a large surface area of baking soda, since that makes it more effective (this is my own speculation, but it's got to be scientifically valid, dammit!).

When I bought my Black Tiger cocktail arcade, it was basically a giant 20 year old ash tray inside. After painstakingly vacuming and wiping it out, I stuck in 3 or 4 boxes of baking soda. After a couple years or so when I moved, I threw away the baking soda and it now doesn't smell like a bar when I turn it on.

[FM-77]

I don't know how to get smoke out of manuals, but time managed to get rid of the dog poop smell of my Altered Beast and Sonic manuals.  It took about, uhh, 10 years though.  I don't know if you want to wait that long.

Why did they smell like that? And why did you keep them if they did? 

[Hobo Xiphas]

Why did they smell like that? And why did you keep them if they did? 

Like I said, my dog pooped on them one day when I left them on the ground.

I keep them around because Altered Beast and Sonic manuals are just SO HARD TO FIND.

[TheMilford]

Bumping this to see if anybody has some new ideas... I recently purchased some really nice copies of some Super CD games from a reputable seller. The games are in fantastic shape... however they REEK of smoke.

I disassembled them and cleaned the discs and trays with Windex... that only helped with the cases, the trays still stink as do the CD faces (not the play surface, weird) so I let those sit for a few minutes with a spritz of Fabreeze on them then repeated the Windex wipe-down. Semmed to work there.

Now, what to do with the booklets and tray cards?