Using cardboard from fabric bolts
 

Does anyone know if the cardboard from fabric bolts is acid free? I have several and would like to cut them in half and use to fold my fabric on long term. I'm all about reuse, repurpose, and recycle.

I am right there with you and can't wait to see some responses to your question. Been wondering for awhile now.

I don't know if its acid free but if fabric came on it , it must be OK to use for storage. I have a bolt of white fabric that is still on the original bolt that I have had for several years, have not found a problem with any fabric I've cut off it yet.

I don't believe they are acid free.

My LQS once told me, when I asked for the empty bolt for just the same reason, that the manufacturers look at the cardboard as "temporary" not permanent storage and therefore is not acid free

That's what I was afraid of. But what gets me is I know for a fact that some LQS have bolts of fabric for years and it's still on the original board. Makes me wonder how long is "temporary".

A thought: Maybe an email to a manufacturer would produce a more difinitive answer.

You could cover the bolts with inexpensive muslin before wrapping fabric around them.

I have had fabric stored on these boards for 10+ years and it's fine.

I would say they are I got some from the fabric store and the lady said yes they were

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

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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.