Hello Joel, Our staff recently experimented with outdoor freezing. This occurred in south-central Wisconsin in late May to mid-June, with outdoor temperatures exceeding 90 F on some days. We had a high volume of large objects (furniture size) that needed immediate treatment, so we rented a large freezer semitrailer and parked it on our grounds for a month (padlocked, refueled several times—no electricity needed). The trailer maintained temperatures between roughly -12 and -23, which we confirmed with two Bluetooth HOBO monitors. Despite being parked in full sunlight, the trailer was able to cool down to those temps very quickly, and then acclimated to ambient temperatures gradually enough upon treatment completion so as not to damage artifacts.
To answer your question, I think your plan is feasible with the right budget. Free-standing outdoor freezer units are out there in the market. (EX: https://polarking.com/products/walk-in-freezers/) Good luck! Sarah Taylor (she/her/hers) Assistant Collections Manager Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections Wisconsin Historical Society State Archive Preservation Facility (SAPF) 204 South Thornton Avenue, Madison, WI 53703 sarah.tay...@wisconsinhistory.org Wisconsin Historical Society Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Stories Since 1846<https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/?utm_source=Email%20Signatures&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=si> ________________________________ From: 'Heidi Taylor' via MuseumPests <pestlist@googlegroups.com> Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2023 9:57 AM To: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com> Subject: [PestList] RE: Walk in Freezer Question Hi, For a recent exhibition where there would be raw wood items (dugout canoe and support blocks) that had been sitting outside we used one. We rented an 8 x 20' Walk in and had it parked at our loading dock. We had a padlock on the door and we have rotating Security. It was in the hot sun on concrete and it worked very well, though I think shade would be beneficial. We had a Bluetooth thermometer inside to monitor so we didn’t have to open all the time to check. Maybe you could slowly raise the temp of the freezer until it reaches Gallery temp? You need to have an electrical source that it powerful enough. Our electricians were able to put in a new breaker for it. Cheers! Heidi Taylor [she/her/hers] Associate Registrar of Acquisitions and Loans The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art 941.358.2644 (Please note new phone number) 941.358.2689 Registration office heidi.tay...@ringling.org www.ringling.org<http://www.ringling.org> -----Original Message----- From: pestlist@googlegroups.com <pestlist@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Voron, Joel Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2023 10:41 AM To: Museumpests <pestlist@googlegroups.com> Subject: [PestList] Walk in Freezer Question Does anyone have a walk-in freezer for cold treatments that is freestanding outside? We do not have interior space for one. I am thinking a shade pavilion overhead to cut down on blazing sun on a concrete pad with security fencing and cameras. Cutting it off to wait for acclimatization of the objects. Is this a terrible idea or possibly doable? Joel Voron Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Conservation Dept. Integrated Pest Management Specialist Office 757-220-7080 Cell 757-634-1175 E-Mail jvo...@cwf.org [colonialwilliamsburg.org/give/other-ways-giving/donate/?Code=BGNB02] <colonialwilliamsburg.org/give/other-ways-giving/donate/?Code=BGNB02> Help support the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational institution. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN2PR20MB3120CC386851717D27E35B05DC37A*40MN2PR20MB3120.namprd20.prod.outlook.com__;JQ!!PhOWcWs!ymAwshT7zk5tdj4B5DOvBvhDpkJAgI926sCVOJKmp2JWnJOxpsXTsd_vXOSPqPv4gonDqLYHZIRdcnD84A$ . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/PH0P220MB0379E110D57AD470B1714E11EA37A%40PH0P220MB0379.NAMP220.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pestlist+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/DM6PR06MB425160CB2898B1EF082397A7ED37A%40DM6PR06MB4251.namprd06.prod.outlook.com.
