This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Abby,
As Tom said, we use corn meal in preparation of bird and mammal study skins for the research collection. It seems to be a natural fungicide, desiccant, fluid absorber, and at least dermestids/carpet beetles do not like eating it. For example, scraps of tissue have to be cleaned of corn meal before we feed them to our skeletal cleaning beetle colony, or they will not readily eat it. You do need to store extra corn meal (or potato flour) in the freezer so that it does not become infested by other grain beetles/corn weevils, etc. Thaw it in its sealed container 24 hours before use, so that moisture does not condense on inside your dry meal storage. Good Luck, Trey Crumpton Village Manager Mayborn Museum Complex Baylor University One Bear Place #97154 Waco, Texas 76798-7154 (254) 710-1190 Fax: (254) 710-1105 www.maybornmuseum.com -----Original Message----- From: pestlist@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net] Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 5:49 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] These messages are from the Museumpests List, digest mode. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- From: bugma...@aol.com Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:49:55 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests Most taxidermists use corn meal for absorbing fats and cleaning. Tom Parker -----Original Message----- From: Abigail K Stevens <abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk> To: pestlist <pestlist@museumpests.net> Sent: Mon, Nov 26, 2012 7:45 am Subject: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, One of our conservators is talking about using potato flour as part of a cl eaning process for taxidermy. Although the flour is blown out of the fur/ha ir at the end of the process, I am concerned that any residue could potenti ally provide a food source for pests. I was wondering whether anyone has an y experience of using potato flour on taxidermy, and whether or not it has made the taxidermy even more appealing to pests? Many thanks in advance, Abby Abby Stevens | Preventive Conservator | The Manchester Museum & The Whitwor th Art Gallery t: 0161 306 1590 |t: 07825 011 011 | abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk Monday, Tuesday & Friday at The Manchester Museum Wednesday & Thursday at The Whitworth Art Gallery www.manchester.ac.uk/museum or www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: Appelbaum & Himmelstein <aa...@mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:49:38 -0500 Subject: Re: [pestlist] freezing damp wooden objects You might want to consider heating instead: 120-130 degrees for a short time. I am not certain about the effects on wood-borers in particular or the timing. Others on the list can be more specific about this. Barbara Appelbaum On Nov 22, 2012, at 1:50 PM, bugma...@aol.com wrote: > This is a message from the Museumpests List. > To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net > To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > Leonie - > > If you simply set the pieces out on a table for a few days, they will lose most of the moisture in your heated building. They would then be able to be frozen without incident. Be careful of any adornments on the pieces and be sure freezing wouldn't affect them. > > Tom Parker > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Gärtner, Leonie <l.gaert...@smb.spk-berlin.de> > To: pestlist <pestlist@museumpests.net> > Sent: Thu, Nov 22, 2012 10:15 am > Subject: [pestlist] freezing damp wooden objects > > This is a message from the Museumpests List. > To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net > To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > My museum recently acquired many painted wooden objects from Papua New Guinea. > They are heavily infested with different woodboring insects, which we would like > to eradicate by freezing at -30°C. > However the objects arrived in a damp state (wood humidity 16-18%), and cannot > be dried prior to the treatment. > Will there be substantial damage due to the formation of ice inside the wood? > Smaller objects have been frozen to -20°C without apparent damage, but I am > still uncertain. > I'd be very greatful for any help and advice! > > - - > Leonie Gärtner > Dipl. Restauratorin (Südsee und Australien) Abt.III Ethnologisches > Museum Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz > > Arnimallee 27 > 14195 Berlin > > Fon:+49 30 8301-338 > Fax:+49 30 8301-500 > l.gaert...@smb.spk-berlin.de > www.smb.museum > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net > > To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in > the subject put: > "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. > > You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. > To change to the DIGEST mode send an > email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: > > set mode digest pestlist > > Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net > > To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: > "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. > > You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. > To change to the DIGEST mode send an > email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: > > set mode digest pestlist > > Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com Appelbaum & Himmelstein 444 Central Park West New York, NY 10025 212-666-4630 (voice) 212-316-1039 (fax) aa...@mindspring.com website: aandhconservation.org ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: "Jerry Shiner" <i...@keepsafe.ca> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:53:52 -0500 Subject: RE: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests on FURS My family began cleaning fur garments s in the 1920's. The trick is to clean the fur without affecting (removing oils) from the pelt. Immersion will usually ruin the pelts, so a granular material is used to scrub the individual hairs. I've never heard of potato flour being used, but it makes sense. In our operations (and the others I have seen), sawdust, ground wood, or ground corn cobs are used as the scrubbing medium. They can be dampened with a solvent of choice (water, petroleum based solvent, etc.), or the medium may be used dry. Once tumbled or rubbed into the fur, the medium (and the dirt it holds) must be completely removed. In Europe in the early part of the last century, fur cleanersr (their apprentices, children, etc.) would beat out the sawdust from the furs with bamboo canes. I understand (from discussing with a real "old timer") that this was difficult and dirty work. In "modern" commericial operations, we used cylindrical cages (like a giant dryer drum made of fencing) to tumble the furs to shake out the bulk of the sawdust. The corners and pockets were cleaned of sawdust residue with compressed air. Then garments were brushed, sprayed with an appropriate shining agent (often containing silicone), and ironed on specialized machines. Then buttons were uncovered, linings fixed and steamed, garments sorted, examined, invoiced, stored, shipped, etc. (more than anyone needed to know?) hope this is of use, at least anecdotally you have other options (see above), and the idea of potato flour residue (there's always some residue) makes me nervous. js Jerry Shiner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems 800 683 4696 www.keepsafe.ca <http://www.keepsafe.ca/> i...@keepsafe.ca Specializing in the design, procurement, and installation of environmental control systems in museums and archives. -----Original Message----- From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Abigail K Stevens Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 7:44 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, One of our conservators is talking about using potato flour as part of a cleaning process for taxidermy. Although the flour is blown out of the fur/hair at the end of the process, I am concerned that any residue could potentially provide a food source for pests. I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of using potato flour on taxidermy, and whether or not it has made the taxidermy even more appealing to pests? Many thanks in advance, Abby Abby Stevens | Preventive Conservator | The Manchester Museum & The Whitworth Art Gallery t: 0161 306 1590 |t: 07825 011 011 | abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk Monday, Tuesday & Friday at The Manchester Museum Wednesday & Thursday at The Whitworth Art Gallery www.manchester.ac.uk/museum or <http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk> www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: "Jerry Shiner" <i...@keepsafe.ca> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:19:50 -0500 Subject: RE: [pestlist] freezing damp wooden objects re: Barbara's suggestion for heating the objects one of the methods used in the Thermo Lignum process is to bury a temperature probe in the middle of a facsimile object before heating for example, given an oak carving that is 15 cm wide, you would find and cut a similarly sized piece of oak scrap, drill a hole to the centre of the scrap piece, insert a temperature probe, and monitor during treatment. you then heat the object and facsimile in the same chamber until the centre of the facsimile reaches the appropriate temperature. Ever used a meat thermometer on a turkey? same principal, only one turkey (the antique) remains pristine. One more mask comment. While anoxia may or may not be your choice of treatment, storage in very low oxygen conditions will also prevent the development of mold on the masks while they are damp. js Jerry Shiner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems 800 683 4696 www.keepsafe.ca <http://www.keepsafe.ca/> i...@keepsafe.ca Specializing in the design, procurement, and installation of environmental control systems in museums and archives. -----Original Message----- From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Appelbaum & Himmelstein Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 10:50 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: Re: [pestlist] freezing damp wooden objects This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- You might want to consider heating instead: 120-130 degrees for a short time. I am not certain about the effects on wood-borers in particular or the timing. Others on the list can be more specific about this. Barbara Appelbaum On Nov 22, 2012, at 1:50 PM, bugma...@aol.com wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Leonie - If you simply set the pieces out on a table for a few days, they will lose most of the moisture in your heated building. They would then be able to be frozen without incident. Be careful of any adornments on the pieces and be sure freezing wouldn't affect them. Tom Parker -----Original Message----- From: Gärtner, Leonie <l.gaert...@smb.spk-berlin.de> To: pestlist <pestlist@museumpests.net> Sent: Thu, Nov 22, 2012 10:15 am Subject: [pestlist] freezing damp wooden objects This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- My museum recently acquired many painted wooden objects from Papua New Guinea. They are heavily infested with different woodboring insects, which we would like to eradicate by freezing at -30°C. However the objects arrived in a damp state (wood humidity 16-18%), and cannot be dried prior to the treatment. Will there be substantial damage due to the formation of ice inside the wood? Smaller objects have been frozen to -20°C without apparent damage, but I am still uncertain. I'd be very greatful for any help and advice! - - Leonie Gärtner Dipl. Restauratorin (Südsee und Australien) Abt.III Ethnologisches Museum Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz Arnimallee 27 14195 Berlin Fon:+49 30 8301-338 Fax:+49 30 8301-500 l.gaert...@smb.spk-berlin.de www.smb.museum <http://www.smb.museum/> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com Appelbaum & Himmelstein 444 Central Park West New York, NY 10025 212-666-4630 (voice) 212-316-1039 (fax) aa...@mindspring.com website: aandhconservation.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: "Steve Sullivan" <ssulli...@naturemuseum.org> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:22:38 -0600 Subject: RE: [pestlist] As a taxidermist, I've never used organic flours after the mount was complete. If it's for fur cleaning, I've used finely powdered borax. Sometimes coarse borax is better, too, because too fine a product can get stuck in oily dust and make a bigger mess. The other benefit of borax, of course, is additional bug-proofing without making a mount that can't be handed safely. I suspect diatomaceous earth might work as well as fine borax or flour, though I can see some potential problems on the microscopic scale. I might give it a try next time I need to do a dry cleaning myself. --Steve From: pestlist@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net] Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 5:45 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] These messages are from the Museumpests List, digest mode. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- From: Abigail K Stevens <abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:44:25 +0000 Subject: Potato Flour and Pests Dear all, One of our conservators is talking about using potato flour as part of a cleaning process for taxidermy. Although the flour is blown out of the fur/hair at the end of the process, I am concerned that any residue could potentially provide a food source for pests. I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of using potato flour on taxidermy, and whether or not it has made the taxidermy even more appealing to pests? Many thanks in advance, Abby Abby Stevens | Preventive Conservator | The Manchester Museum & The Whitworth Art Gallery t: 0161 306 1590 |t: 07825 011 011 | abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk Monday, Tuesday & Friday at The Manchester Museum Wednesday & Thursday at The Whitworth Art Gallery www.manchester.ac.uk/museum or www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in DIGEST mode. To change to the STANDARD mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode standard pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: Fiona Graham <fionagra...@rogers.com> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:32:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests on FURS Re. Potato Flour and Pests Potato flour and cornmeal are common, tradi tional ways of cleaning furs. As they leave residues that attract pests, it 's preferable to use an inedible cleaning material. At the Royal Sask atchewan Museum in the early 1990's we used very fine gauge glass beads to clean taxidermy specimens. The beads were rubbed into the fur by hand (wear ing gloves) and then vacuumed out. If I recall correctly, this technique wo rked better on short-haired mammals than on long-haired ones. For more information on cleaning techniques for taxidermy, you can refer to the art icles by Sarah Spafford-Ricci and me in the Journal of the American Institu te for Conservation archives. http://cool.conservation-us.org/jaic/artic les/jaic39-01-003 indx.html The post-prints of the conference Fur Trad e Legacy: The Preservation of Organic Materials (Eds. Jim Burns and Margot Brunn, Canadian Association for Conservation, 2005) may also be a useful re ference. Fiona Graham, MAC, CAPC, CAHP Associate Goldsmith Borga l & Company Ltd. Architects 410 Adelaide Street West, #500 Toronto, Ont ario M5V 1S8 Tel.: (416) 929-6556, #112 Fax: (416) 929-4745 E-mail: fi...@gbca.ca Web: www.gbca.ca From: Jerry Shiner <i...@keepsafe.ca> To: pestlist@museumpests.net Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 10:53:52 AM Subject: RE: [pestlist] Po tato Flour and Pests on FURS This is a message from the Museumpest s List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests. net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------- ------------------------------------------------ Message My family began cleaning fur garments s in the 1920's. The trick is to cl ean the fur without affecting (removing oils) from the pelt. Immersion w ill usually ruin the pelts, so a granular material is used to scrub the individual hairs. I've never heard of potato flour being used, b ut it makes sense. In our operations (and the others I have seen), saw dust, ground wood, or ground corn cobs are used as the scrubbing mediu m. They can be dampened with a solvent of choice (water, petroleum bas ed solvent, etc.), or the medium may be used dry. Once tumbled or rubbed into the fur, the medium (and the dirt it holds) must be completely removed. In Europe in the early part of the last century, fur c leanersr (their apprentices, children, etc.) would beat out the sawdus t from the furs with bamboo canes. I understand (from discussing with a real "old timer") that this was difficult and dirty work. In "modern" co mmericial operations, we used cylindrical cages (like a giant dryer drum made of fencing) to tumble the furs to shake out the bulk of the sawdus t. The corners and pockets were cleaned of sawdust residue with compress ed air. Then garments were brushed, sprayed with an appropriate shining agent (often containing silicone), and ironed on specialized machines. Then buttons were uncovered, linings fixed and steamed, garments sorted , examined, invoiced, stored, shipped, etc. (more than anyone need ed to know?) hope this is of use, at least anecdotally you have other options (see above), and the idea of potato flour residue (there's always some residue) makes me nervous. js Jerry Shi ner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems 800 683 4696 www.keepsafe.ca in f...@keepsafe.ca Specializing in the design, procurement, and installati on of environmental control systems in museums and archives. -----Original Message----- From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:admi n...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Abigail K Stevens Sent: Monday, Novemb er 26, 2012 7:44 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] Po tato Flour and Pests This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. -------- --------------------------------------------------- Dear all, One of our conservators is talking about using potato flour as part o f a cleaning process for taxidermy. Although the flour is blown out of t he fur/hair at the end of the process, I am concerned that any residue coul d potentially provide a food source for pests. I was wondering whether a nyone has any experience of using potato flour on taxidermy, and whether or not it has made the taxidermy even more appealing to pests? Many thanks in advance, Abby Abby Stevens| Preventive Conse rvator | The Manchester Museum & The Whitworth Art Gallery t: 0161 306 1590 |t: 07825 011 011 | abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk Monday, T uesday & Friday at The Manchester Museum Wednesday & Thursday at Th e Whitworth Art Gallery www.manchester.ac.uk/museumor www.whitworth.manch ester.ac.uk ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an emai l to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imailsrv@museumpe sts.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ----- ----------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To un subscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in t he subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send a n email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com o r l...@zaks.com ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: "Jerry Shiner" <i...@keepsafe.ca> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:02:48 -0500 Subject: RE: [pestlist] Steve Your note reminded me. We had a store room containing many bags of diatomaceous earth, but for some reason never used it in the cleaning operation. I'll ask my father why not. I suspect that it was too complicated to have multiple cleaning methods in a commercial operation. I know he wouldn't have purchased a large quantity if it had not been proven in someone else's operation. On the other hand, it is quite possible that it could be a long-term problem. js Jerry Shiner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems 800 683 4696 www.keepsafe.ca <http://www.keepsafe.ca/> i...@keepsafe.ca Specializing in the design, procurement, and installation of environmental control systems in museums and archives. -----Original Message----- From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Steve Sullivan Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 11:23 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- As a taxidermist, I've never used organic flours after the mount was complete. If it's for fur cleaning, I've used finely powdered borax. Sometimes coarse borax is better, too, because too fine a product can get stuck in oily dust and make a bigger mess. The other benefit of borax, of course, is additional bug-proofing without making a mount that can't be handed safely. I suspect diatomaceous earth might work as well as fine borax or flour, though I can see some potential problems on the microscopic scale. I might give it a try next time I need to do a dry cleaning myself. --Steve From: pestlist@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net] Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 5:45 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: [pestlist] These messages are from the Museumpests List, digest mode. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- From: Abigail K Stevens <abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:44:25 +0000 Subject: Potato Flour and Pests Dear all, One of our conservators is talking about using potato flour as part of a cleaning process for taxidermy. Although the flour is blown out of the fur/hair at the end of the process, I am concerned that any residue could potentially provide a food source for pests. I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of using potato flour on taxidermy, and whether or not it has made the taxidermy even more appealing to pests? Many thanks in advance, Abby Abby Stevens | Preventive Conservator | The Manchester Museum & The Whitworth Art Gallery t: 0161 306 1590 |t: 07825 011 011 | abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk Monday, Tuesday & Friday at The Manchester Museum Wednesday & Thursday at The Whitworth Art Gallery www.manchester.ac.uk/museum or www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in DIGEST mode. To change to the STANDARD mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode standard pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ********************* end of message ***** ********************* next message ******* From: naturalhistory <naturalhist...@museum.ie> Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:10:18 +0000 Subject: RE: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests on FURS For video footage of wet cleaning of taxidermy (a tiger mounted in 1913) see about 1-2 minutes into this documentary at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEgFUZgkbts&feature=relmfu This shows work at the taxidermy studio of a Dutch family firm www.jacbouten.com<http://www.jacbouten.com> Their standard cleaning technique for mammals is a thorough shampoo, water rinse, and rapid dry using sawdust, then blowing sawdust out with compressed air. The aim is to work quickly before the hide starts to soak up water and change dimensions. This has been done for many hundreds of specimens from our collections and also applied to other major museums, mostly in the Netherlands. Nigel Mr Nigel T. Monaghan, Keeper, Natural History Division, National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, IRELAND +353-1-6486354 (phone) +353-1-6486380 (fax) nmonag...@museum.ie<mailto:nmonag...@museum.ie> www.museum.ie<blocked::outbind://24/www.museum.ie> Group Bookings should be addressed to booki...@museum.ie<mailto:booki...@museum.ie> Research visitors must make appointments in advance of any proposed visit. Visit: See our profile and download the App at www.dublinculturetrail.ie<http://www.dublinculturetrail.ie/Venue.aspx?id=120bc173-a5de-4b8d-ab1d-7568d9a34b11> Watch: We are one of the Dublin stories on www.storymap.ie<http://www.storymap.ie/> also at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VunX2u_mQWw Hear: Chopped, pickled and stuffed online radio at www.rte.ie/radio1/choppedpickledandstuffed<http://www.rte.ie/radio1/choppedpickledandstuffed> Read: Guide to the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, â,¬5.95 from Museum Shops Follow: Spoticus, our Rothschild's giraffe who speaks his own mind on Twitter http://twitter.com/SpotticusNH Enjoy: Dead Zoo - the poem that won a prize at http://www.poetryireland.ie/publications/ted-mcnulty-prize.html Count: Using the maths trail of Dublin from Ingenious Ireland<http://ingeniousireland.ie/2011/10/launch-of-new-maths-trails-dublin-by-numbers/> and measure a giant deer Member: Merrion Square Innovation Network www.merrionsquare.ie<http://www.merrionsquare.ie/> Winners: Best Access and Outreach Initiative - Museum of the Year Awards 2004 Winners: UCD President's Grants for Teaching 2004 and 2005 From: ad...@museumpests.net [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Fiona Graham Sent: 26 November 2012 16:33 To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: Re: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests on FURS This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Re. Potato Flour and Pests Potato flour and cornmeal are common, traditional ways of cleaning furs. As they leave residues that attract pests, it's preferable to use an inedible cleaning material. At the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in the early 1990's we used very fine gauge glass beads to clean taxidermy specimens. The beads were rubbed into the fur by hand (wearing gloves) and then vacuumed out. If I recall correctly, this technique worked better on short-haired mammals than on long-haired ones. For more information on cleaning techniques for taxidermy, you can refer to the articles by Sarah Spafford-Ricci and me in the Journal of the American Institute for Conservation archives. http://cool.conservation-us.org/jaic/articles/jaic39-01-003_indx.html The post-prints of the conference Fur Trade Legacy: The Preservation of Organic Materials (Eds. Jim Burns and Margot Brunn, Canadian Association for Conservation, 2005) may also be a useful reference. Fiona Graham, MAC, CAPC, CAHP Associate Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd. Architects 410 Adelaide Street West, #500 Toronto, Ontario M5V 1S8 Tel.: (416) 929-6556, #112 Fax: (416) 929-4745 E-mail: fi...@gbca.ca<mailto:fi...@gbca.ca> Web: www.gbca.ca<http://www.gbca.ca> ________________________________ From: Jerry Shiner <i...@keepsafe.ca<mailto:i...@keepsafe.ca>> To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 10:53:52 AM Subject: RE: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests on FURS This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- My family began cleaning fur garments s in the 1920's. The trick is to clean the fur without affecting (removing oils) from the pelt. Immersion will usually ruin the pelts, so a granular material is used to scrub the individual hairs. I've never heard of potato flour being used, but it makes sense. In our operations (and the others I have seen), sawdust, ground wood, or ground corn cobs are used as the scrubbing medium. They can be dampened with a solvent of choice (water, petroleum based solvent, etc.), or the medium may be used dry. Once tumbled or rubbed into the fur, the medium (and the dirt it holds) must be completely removed. In Europe in the early part of the last century, fur cleanersr (their apprentices, children, etc.) would beat out the sawdust from the furs with bamboo canes. I understand (from discussing with a real "old timer") that this was difficult and dirty work. In "modern" commericial operations, we used cylindrical cages (like a giant dryer drum made of fencing) to tumble the furs to shake out the bulk of the sawdust. The corners and pockets were cleaned of sawdust residue with compressed air. Then garments were brushed, sprayed with an appropriate shining agent (often containing silicone), and ironed on specialized machines. Then buttons were uncovered, linings fixed and steamed, garments sorted, examined, invoiced, stored, shipped, etc. (more than anyone needed to know?) hope this is of use, at least anecdotally you have other options (see above), and the idea of potato flour residue (there's always some residue) makes me nervous. js Jerry Shiner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems 800 683 4696 www.keepsafe.ca<http://www.keepsafe.ca/> i...@keepsafe.ca<mailto:i...@keepsafe.ca> Specializing in the design, procurement, and installation of environmental control systems in museums and archives. -----Original Message----- From: ad...@museumpests.net<mailto:ad...@museumpests.net> [mailto:ad...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Abigail K Stevens Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 7:44 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: [pestlist] Potato Flour and Pests This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, One of our conservators is talking about using potato flour as part of a cleaning process for taxidermy. Although the flour is blown out of the fur/hair at the end of the process, I am concerned that any residue could potentially provide a food source for pests. I was wondering whether anyone has any experience of using potato flour on taxidermy, and whether or not it has made the taxidermy even more appealing to pests? Many thanks in advance, Abby Abby Stevens | Preventive Conservator | The Manchester Museum & The Whitworth Art Gallery t: 0161 306 1590 |t: 07825 011 011 | abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk<mailto:abigail.k.stev...@manchester.ac.uk> Monday, Tuesday & Friday at The Manchester Museum Wednesday & Thursday at The Whitworth Art Gallery www.manchester.ac.uk/museum<http://www.manchester.ac.uk/museum> or www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk<http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.Net> To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com<mailto:l...@collectionpests.com> or l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.Net> To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com<mailto:l...@collectionpests.com> or l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.Net> To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com<mailto:l...@collectionpests.com> or l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> Fógra Tábhachtach Tá an t-eolas sa ríomhphost seo agus in aon chomhad a ghabhann leis rúnda agus d'fhéadfadh sé a bheith faoi phribhléid dlíthúil freisin. Séanann Ard Mhúsaem na hÉireann ach go háirithe (ach ní trí theorannú) chuile fhreagracht, agus ní ghlacann le haon dliteanas i leith aon ríomhphost nó iatáin a ghabhann leo, atá clúmhillteach, taircisniúil, ciníoch nó a sháraíonn cearta an duine in aon tslí eile, sárú rúndachta, príobháideachais nó cearta eile san áireamh. Má tá an ríomhphost seo faighte agat trí dhearmad, cuir ar an eolas muid láithreach ag ithelpd...@museum.ie agus scrios amach é féin agus chuile chóip de as do chóras. Deimhníonn an fonóta seo chomh maith gur seiceáileadh an teachtaireacht ríomhphoist seo ar fhaitíos vírís. Important Notice The information in this e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may also be legally privileged. In particular (but not by way of limitation) the National Museum of Ireland disclaims all responsibility and accepts no liability for any e-mails or their attachments which are defamatory, offensive, racist or which in any other way are in breach of an individuals rights, including breach of confidence, privacy or other rights. If you have received this e-mail message in error, inform us immediately at ithelpd...@museum.ie and delete it and all copies from your system. This footnote also confirms that this e-mail message has been checked for the presence of computer viruses. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in DIGEST mode. To change to the STANDARD mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode standard pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestlist@museumpests.Net To unsubscribe from this list send an email to pestlist@museumpests.net and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to imail...@museumpests.net with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email l...@collectionpests.com or l...@zaks.com
