49 replies to this topic

[Bluehawk]

This pretty much covers what is currently available for any and all needs related to preserving and conserving most kinds of artifacts.

Link see:
http://www.si.edu/mc...e/supplier.html
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Excerpt A-F only...)

CONSERVATION PRODUCT SUPPLIERS
Abatron, Inc
5501 95th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53144
(800) 653-2000; (414) 653-2000
FAX (414) 653-2019
Restoration and maintenance products.

ABICO Scientific Company
Box 12
Kashiwa 277
Japan
0471-46-2497; 0471-52-7866
FAX 0471-44-5443
Glass jars and plastic inserts.

Absolutely Archival: Matting - Framing - Photography
19 Taylor Street #1
Littleton, MA 01460
(508) 468-0211
Photographic materials.

Advanced Packaging
4818 Seton Drive
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 358-9444
FAX (410) 358-9495
Packaging materials.

Aiko's Art Materials Import, Inc.
3347 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 404-5600
Conservation supplies for books and papers.

Alfa Aesar
A Johnson Matthey Company
30 Bond Street
Ward Hill, MA 01835-8099
(800) 343-7276 Technical Service
FAX (800) 322-4757
Lab supplies and chemicals

Alpha Systems
13509 East Boundary Road
Midlothian, VA 23112
(800) 849-9870
FAX (804) 744-9872
Bar coding and labeling.

Althor Products
PO Box 640
Bethel, CT 06801
(203) 830-6060; (800) 688-2693
FAX (203) 830-6064
Conservation supplies.

AMPSCO Corp.
27 West Jenkins Avenue
Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 443-7431
FAX (614) 443-7564
Light traps for insects.

Antique Furniture Workroom Inc.
225 East 24th Street
New York, NY 10010
(212) 683-0551
FAX (212) 696-1561
Conservation supplies for wood and furniture.

ANW-Crestwood Paper Company Inc.
315 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 989-2700
FAX (212) 929-7532
(800) 525-3196
Conservation supplies for books and papers.

Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc.
601 Industrial Drive
Middletown, DE 19709
(302) 378-8888
FAX (302) 378-4482
Conservation supplies for support.

Archival Art Services, Inc
PO Box 21399
Washington, DC 20009
(888) 628-3279; (202) 667-3575
FAX (202) 265-2818
Expansion stretchers

Archival Collection Systems
PO Box 50 262
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 782-2361
Numbering kit.

Archival Products (a division of Library Binding Service)
PO Box 1413
Des Moines, IA 50305-1413
(800) 526-5640
FAX (888) 220-2397
Preservation enclosures, bookbinding materials.

Archival Resources Company, Inc.
PO Box 1
Emmaus, PA 18049
(610) 791-5330
FAX (610) 791-5321
Preservation and restoration supplies.

Archivart
40 Eisenhower Drive
Paramus, NJ 07652
(800) 804-8428
Archival products for conservation, exhibition and storage .

ARTEN: Environmental Products
Art Preservation Services
315 East 89th Street
New York, NY 10128
(212) 722-6300
FAX (212) 427-6726
Provides laser thermohygrometers, mechanical thermohygrometers, laser pointers, silica gel systems; reconditioning boxes, recalibration kits, ultra violet light monitors, visible light meters, ISUZU hygrothermographs, along with other gallery and display case products.

Aspects Inc.
9477 North Opal Avenue
Mentone, CA 92359
(909) 794-7722
FAX (909) 794-6996
Conservation supplies for wood and furniture.

Atlantic Protective Pouches
PO Box 1191
Toms River, NJ 08754
(732) 240-3871
FAX (732) 250-4306
Conservation supplies.

Bailey & Walke Enterprises (Gulf South Financial Services)
20 Tealwood
Shreveport, LA 71104
(318) 861-4109
FAX (318) 219-2600
Conservation supplies - Silver tarnish inhibitor.

Baxter Scientific Products
1430 Waukegan Road
McGaw Park, IL 60085
(800) 444-0880
FAX (708) 578-9216
Laboratory equipment and supplies.

BDH Inc
350 Evans Avenue
Toronto, ON M8Z 1K5
Canada (416) 255-8521
FAX (416) 255-7453
Silica Gel.

Beckman Coulter, Inc.
4300 North Harbor Bouldvard
Fullerton, CA 92634
(714) 871-4848; (800) 742-2345
FAX (714) 773-8898
Laboratory instruments.

Robert W. Belcher
2505 West Hillview Drive
Dalton, GA 30721
(706) 259-3482
Conservation supplies for wood and furniture.

Benchmark
PO Box 214, Cane Farm Building 7
Rosemont, NJ 08556
(609) 397-1131
FAX (609) 397-1159
Conservation and preservation supplies.

J & H Berge, Inc.
4111 South Clinton Avenue
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 561-1234
FAX (908) 561-3002
Laboratory equipment and supplies.

B.L. Haymond Supply
PO Box 1165
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 462-4221
FAX (707) 462-4221
Oil painting, paper-based art, and antique picture frame supplies.

Bonjon
331 Laurelwood Road
Santa Clara, CA 95054-2001
(408) 988-5244; (800) 345-4040
FAX (408) 988-4485
Conservation supplies.

Book Support Systems, Inc
PO Box 23789
Portland, OR 97281-3789
(800) 647-5713
FAX (503) 864-8448
Book photocopiers and supports.

The Bookbinder's Warehouse
31 Division Street
Keyport, NJ 07735
(908) 264-0306
Book and paper conservation materials.

Bookmakers International Ltd.
6001 66th Avenue, Suite 101
Riverdale, MD 20737
(301) 459-3384
FAX (301) 459-7629
Conservation supplies for books and papers.

Bostik
211 Boston Street
Middleton, MA 01949
(508) 777-0100; (800) 726-7845
FAX (508) 750-7212
Conservation supplies.

BoxStar
1227 De La Vina Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-5574
FAX (805) 965-2414
Corrugate Packaging System based on Universal Boxmaking Pattern™.

Bradford-Derustit Corporation
Box 151
Clifton Park, NY 12065
(201) 485-7922
FAX (201) 485-4870
Conservation supplies for metals.

Brodart Co.
500 Arch Street
Williamsport, PA 17705
(800) 233-8467
FAX (717) 327-9237
Archival supplies.

Calgon Carbon Corporation
PO Box 717
Pittsburgh, PA 15108
(800) 4Carbon
Activated Charcoal paper and cloth.

Cansel Survey Equipment
2414 Holly Lane
Ottawa, ON K1V 7P1
Canada
(613) 731-4703
FAX (613)526-0712
Conservation supplies.

Carr McLean Limited
461 Horner Avenue
Toronto, ON M8W 4X2
Canada
(416) 252-3371
FAX (416) 252-9203
Conservation, Museum and Archival supplies. Free English or French catalogue available

Cascade Group Inc
68 West Main Street
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
(516) 624-9362
FAX (516) 624-9363
Data loggers.

Century
PO Box 2393
Brea, CA 92622
(800) 767-0777
Photographic products and accessories.

Charcoal Cloth (International) Ltd
High Tech House, Commerce Way, Area Business Park
Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear DH4 5PP
United Kingdom
091 584-6962
FAX: 091 584-6793
Activated charcoal paper and cloth.

Charolette Ford Trunks
313 Main Street
Box 536
Spearman, TX 79081
(806) 659-3027
Conservation supplies for wood and furniture.

Chelsea Bottling Company
10 Wesley Street
PO Box 6330
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617) 884-2323; (800) 345-5277
FAX: (617) 889-1626
Bottles.

Chem-Clean Furniture Restoration Center
Route 7-A
Arlington, VT 05250
(802) 375-2743
FAX (802) 375-6606
Conservation supplies and recaning supplies.

ChemServices Inc
660 Tower Lane
PO Box 599
West Chester, PA 19381
(800) 452-9994; (610) 692-3026
FAX (610) 692-8729
Chemical for laboratories.

Cole-Parmer Instrument Company
625 East Bunker Court
Verrnon Hills, IL 60061
(800) 323-4340
(847) 549-7600
FAX (847) 549-7676
Conservation instrumentation, educational and reference materials, and plasticware.

Conservation Resources International, LLC.
8000-H Forbes Place
Springfield, VA 22151
(800) 634-6932; (703) 321-7730
FAX (703) 321-0629
Archival, conservation, technical equipment and supply materials.

Conservation Support Systems
924 West Pedregosa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-4622
OR: PO Box 91746, Santa Barbara, CA 93190-1746
(800) 482-6299; (805) 682-9843
FAX (805) 682-2064
Conservation, restoration and archival products.

Conservator's Emporium
100 Standing Rock Circle
Reno, NV 89511
(702) 852-0404
FAX (702) 852-3737
Archival and conservation materials, tools, supplies, and hygrothermographs.

Conservator's Products Co.
PO Box 411
Chatham, NJ 07928
(973) 927-4855
Beva products and other supplies.

Consolidated Plastics Company, Inc.
8181 Darrow Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087
(216) 425-3900; (800) 362-1000
FAX (216) 425-3333
Storage containers.

Corning Laboratory Science Products Catalog
Corning Glass Works
Corning, NY 14831
(607) 737-1640
(800) 222-7740 Technical Information
Laboratory supplies.

Coroplast Inc.
4501 Spring Valley Road
Dallas, TX 75244
(972) 392-2241; (800) 666-2241
FAX (972) 392-2242
Corrogated plastic boards.

Creative Arts of Ventura/Don Ulrich Artist
PO Box 684
Ventura, CA 93002
(805) 643-4160
Conservation supplies for paintings.

Crescent Cardboard Company
100 West Willow Road
Wheeling, IL 60090
(708) 537-3400
FAX (708) 537-7153
Manufacturer of conservation framing materials.

Crescent Preservation Products
PO Box 285
Lenoxdale, MA 01242-0001
(800) 727-3749
(413) 637-0156
FAX (413) 637-4584
Provides museum mounting boards.

CSI: Crystalizations Systems, Inc.
640 Broadway Avenue
Holbrook, NY 11741
(516) 567-0888
FAX (516) 567-4007
Storage systems.

Curatorial Assistance/ArtSystems
113 East Union Street
Pasadena, CA 91103
(213) 681-2401
FAX (818) 449-9603
Specializes in traveling exhibitions; archival framing; custom-built ArtCrate reusable shipping containers; books and catalogue packaging and production.

CYRO Industries
100 Enterprise Drive
PO Box 5055
Rockaway, NJ 07866
(973) 442-60000
FAX (973) 442-6117
Acrylic sheets.

Da-Tar Container Co.
17813 South Main Street, Unit 122
Gardenia, CA 90248
(310) 515-7401
FAX (310) 515-3713
Storage containers.

A Daigger & Co.
620 Lakeview Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
(800) 621-7193
FAX (800) 320-7200
Laboratory equipment and supplies.

Daniel Smith Artist's Materials
4150 First Avenue South
PO Box 84268
Seattle, WA 98124-5568
(800) 426-7923 Service
FAX (800) 238-40065
(800) 426-6740 Orders
Artist supplies.

Delta Designs Ltd
PO Box 1733
Topeka, KS 66601
(785) 234-2244
(800) 656-7426
FAX (785) 233-1021
Storage equipment.

DEMCO, Inc
4810 Forest Run Road
PO Box 7488
Madison, WI 53707-7488
(800) 279-1586
Library materials, archival supplies, frames, and office equipment.

Dick Blick Art Materials
PO Box 1267
Galesburg, IL 61402-1267
(800) 447-8192
FAX (800) 621-8293
(800) 933-2542 Product Information
(309) 343-6181 International Calls
Art materials.

Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc.
840 Oella Avenue
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(800) 634-4873
(410) 750-7985
FAX (410) 750-7987
Provides couservation forms that can be customized.

Dow Chemical
Customer Information Group
Dow North America
PO Box 1206
Midland, MI 48641
(800) 441-4369
FAX (517) 832-1190
Chemical and lab supplies.

Dupont Co.
PO Box 80010
Wilmington, DE 19880-0010
(800) 441-7515
FAX (302) 892-1705
Chemical and lab supplies.

Durphy Packaging Co.
47 Richard Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
(215) 674-1260; (800) 872-5050
FAX (215) 674-3051
Packaging supplies.

Dynalab Corp.
PO Box 112
Rochester, NY 14601-0112
(716) 334-2060; (800) 828-6595
FAX (716) 334-9496
Lab supplies.

Earth Guild
33 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(800) 327-8448
Tools, materials, and books for handicrafts.

Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester, NY 14650-0811
(716) 722-5151
(800) 242-2424x12
Photographic film, papers, chemicals and equipment.

Easy Leaf Products
6001 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(800) 569-LEAF
FAX (213) 469-0940
Gilding supplies and tools.

Emergency Supplies for Collections
PO Box 3902
Seattle, WA 98124-3902
(800) 929-6886
(206) 322-4181
FAX (206) 323-4153
Provides prepackaged emergency supply kits for disaster response and recovery.

Epoxy Technology
14 Fortune Drive
Billerica, MA 01821
(800) 227-2201; (508) 677-3805
FAX (508) 663-9782
Epoxies and supplies.

Fairfield Processing Corp.
88 Rose Hill Avenue
PO Box 1157
Danbury, CT 06813-1157
(203) 744-2090; (800) 980-8000
FAX (203) 792-9710
Conservation supplies.

Feree's Tools & Supply
PO Box 259
Battle Creek, MI 49016
(800) 253-2261
Conservation tools and supplies.

Fisher Scientific
711 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15291-4785
(800) 388-8355
Chemicals and lab supplies.

FJW Optical Systems, Inc.
629 South Vermont Street
Palatine, IL 60067
(708) 358-2500
FAX (708)358-2533
Conservation supplies.

FLIR Systems Inc.
16 Esquire Road
North Billerica, MA 01862
(800) GO-INFRA (464-6372); (978) 901-8000
Thermography supplies.

Foamex
1550 Champagne Avenue
Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 390-4422; (800) 238-1550
FAX (909) 390-9856/9860
Conservation supplies...

> See above link for F-Z...

Edited by Bluehawk, 03 September 2008 - 03:20 PM.

[SteveR]

Thanks for the list. You are a good guy.
Steve

[Bluehawk]

Thanks for the list. You are a good guy.
Steve

Thanks... I think it will be a useful resource, pretty much covers it all.

[ww2vault]

I think this is a great thread, so great that it should be pinned at the top of this section.

- Jeff

[Peace]

As per request, and rightfully deserved, I pinned this topic.

Regards,

Stijn

[Bluehawk]

Index of other preservation/conservation reference sources and links included within the main link in post #1
-----------------------------------------------------
General
Artifact Appraisals
Art Conservation Organizations
Art Conservation Product Suppliers
Art Conservation Training
Dating of Artifacts
Disaster Resources
Time Capsules
Furniture & Wooden Objects
Biological Deterioration & Damage to Furniture & Wooden Objects
Fundamental Construction Techniques for Furniture & Wooden Objects
Furniture Care and Handling
Furniture Conservation Training Program Master Reading List
Guidelines for Taking Wood Samples from Objects of Antiquity
Moving, Packing, and Shipping Furniture
Preserving and Restoring Furniture Coatings
Objects
Care and Handling of Ivory Objects
Caring for Antique Armaments
Caring for Antique Communication Devices: Phonographs, Radios, Telephones, etc.
Caring for Clocks and Watches
Caring for Dolls and Toys
Caring for Musical Boxes
Caring for Musical Instruments
Caring for Old Houses
Paintings
Caring for Your Paintings
El cuidado de sus pinturas
Caring for Acrylic Paintings
El cuidado de las pinturas acrílicas
What Makes the Painting Image Change?
¿A qué se deben los cambios en la imagen de una pintura?
Does My Painting Need to be Cleaned?
¿Necesito limpiar mi pintura?
What Does It Mean to Have a Painting Restored & How do I Pick a Conservator?
Painting Conservation Glossary of Terms
What is a Painting?
Painting Varnishes
Pigments: Historical, Chemical, and Artistic Importance of Coloring Agents
Paper-Based Materials
Analysis of paper artifacts and documents
Analytical tests graphic
Caring for Audio-Visual and Photographic Materials
Caring for Chinese Wood Block Prints
Caring for Folding Screens
Caring for Globes
Caring for Paper Artifacts (Español)
Caring for Papier Mache
Caring for Video Tapes
Chemistry of Paper
Collections Maintenance for Paper Materials: Housing descriptions
Conservation of Coated and Specialty Papers
Conservation of Tracing Papers
Deterioration and Damage Sources of Paper Materials
Disaster Preparedness, Management, and Response: Paper-Based Materials (A Primer) (Español) (graphic)
Exhibition Installation and Dismantling Precautions for Paper-Based Materials
Framing and Unframing Paper Materials
Handling Paper Artifacts
Housing and Environment Options for Paper Documents on Display
Housing and Environment Options for Paper Documents in Storage
Integrated Pest Management
Paper Properties and Degradation
Preservation Prioritization
Preservation Processing Steps for Paper-Based Collections (graphic)
Preservation Responsibilities for Paper-Based Collections (graphic)
Putting Together a Time Capsule
Bugs, Insects and Pests (IPM)
An IPM Checklist for Planning & implementing Pest Control on Art & Artifact Collections
(AIC Newsletter, May 1997)
Integrated Pest Management Checklist (Paper/Archives Lab)
Textiles
Acid Free Tissue Paper for Textiles and Costume
Gently Vacuumed - A term widely used, but rarely measured!
Geography and Textile Storage
How Much Will It Cost? Textile Repair
Insects and Wool Textiles
Los textiles de lana y los insects
Mold and Mildew
Moho: Causas, Tratamiento, Prevención
Photography of a Textile for Insurance, Appraisal, or Conservation
Stain Removal from Textiles
Tips on How to Handle Antique Textiles and Costumes
Manipulación correcta de textiles antiguo
Velcro® Suspension System
Interesting Links
ART CONSERVATION

[Cobrahistorian]

Can we add University Products and Light Impressions to the list as well? I get most of our conservation supplies from those two outlets.

www.universityproducts.com

www.lightimpressionsdirect.com


Also, for surface cleaning, I use rubber "smoke-off" sponges cut into smaller squares. They are designed for pulling soot off of fireplaces, but are chemically neutral and are great for surface cleaning paper artifacts and textiles. When used VERY gently, they actually pull the tarnish off of bullion, with some spectactular results!

http://www.achooalle...-off-sponge.asp

Also, you may want to check out the Northeast Document Conservation Center at www.nedcc.org. I worked for NEDCC on a contract at the Springfield Armory from 1998-2001. If you click on the "resources" link, there are several preservation leaflets available for public consumption.

Good stuff!

Jon

Edited by Cobrahistorian, 28 February 2009 - 09:58 PM.

[Bluehawk]

Jon, just retyped so as to be clickable - and thank you for those. I used University and Light a whole lot for many many years too (they both give "great catalogue" http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif )

http://www.universityproducts.com

http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com

http://www.achooalle...-off-sponge.asp

http://www.nedcc.org.

Edited by Bluehawk, 01 March 2009 - 05:26 AM.

[Bluehawk]

USMF member "Captainofthe7th" offers re-weaving of fabrics, and repair of plastic covered ribbons.

Link:
http://www.usmilitar...d...c=49490&hl=

[Bluehawk]

This is an excellent USMF thread dealing with preservation supplies relevant to firearms:

http://www.usmilitar...d...c=53908&hl=

[Bluehawk]

The museum preservationist's "Bible" if one wanted to learn state-of-the-art best practises for museum standards involving all kinds of artifacts, then this is the authoritative book:

MUSEUM REGISTRATION METHODS - American Assoc. of Museums, publisher

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/0931201314

The best $20 (used paperback version) anyone seriously concerned with storage, preservation, marking, shipping et al will ever spend.
-----------
http://www.bcin.ca/I...p;Chinkey=66749

Abstract: Contents: Introduction: Part I. Basic procedures - The registration department; Incoming and outgoing material. The registration of objects; Measuring and marking objects; Storage and care of objects; Loans from museum collections; Packing and shipping collections. Part II. Special information - A terminology for describing objects in a museum of anthropology, by Geraldine Bruckner; Classifying paintings, drawings, and prints by media, by Laurence Majewski; The inspection of art objects and trial glossary for describing condition, by Richard D. Buck; Card records - their organization and duplication, by David B. Little; Cataloguing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Marcia C. Harty; Cataloguing prints in the Museum of Modern Art, by Dorothy C. Lytle; A classification system for art objects, by Winifred Kennedy; Accessioning, marking, and storing scientific collections, by William A. Burns; Registration methods in a museum of science and industry, by Sterling H. Ruston; Accession records in a historical museum, hy Margaret P. Pearsall; Preparing art exhibitions for travel, by Virginia Pearson; Importing and exporting museum collections, by Dorothy H. Dudley; Canadian import and export regulations affecting museums, by George Hulme; Competitive exhibitions, by Irma Bezold; Receiving centers for competitive exhibitions, by Paul Mills; References at end of chapters; Index. -- AATA

[Bluehawk]

USMF member "siege1863" posted this excellent advice for dealing with photos mounted in old albums:
---------
"I have a number of photo collections that had to be removed from albums due to various reasons. Most of the war-time albums use highly acidic paper (the thick back stuff). Over time, this well cause photos to shift color or be "burned." I also removed photos because they were originally held in place using tape. The longer tape remains in place, the more damage it will do. The damage is usually a staining of the image. Every once in a while I will find mold or insect damage.

To remove tape from photos, I use an archival product called PEC-12. It comes in a small spray bottle and can be applied directly to the photo, a soft wipe, or cotton swab. Be careful in that one of its uses is to remove ink. If your photos have handwritten notations on the front or back, do not allow the PEC-12 to soak through to these areas.

Tape can sometimes be a bit difficult to remove. The first application of PEC-12 tends to lift the celo strip itself and additional wiping/swabbing will be necessary to remove the gum. The cleaner is great for removing finger oils, dirt, and nicotine build-up. You would be surprised to see what comes off photos from the home of a smoker!

Once the photos have been cleaned and the solvent dried, I then place them into individual archival-safe photo sleeves. A great source for the sleeves is Bags Unlimited. I buy 100-count 3 1/2 X 5 for most uses. They are VERY inexpensive when compared to comparable sleeves from an archival supply company. I have been using them for years and have never had an issue.

For storage, I tend to keep them in small boxes or containers. If you have them standing on edge, as opposed to flat, be sure to place something against them to keep them loosely pressed together. If you do not, and the photos are allowed to shift, they will tend to become curled.

Another bit of advice regarding removing photos from albums...If they were mounted in some sort of order, photocopy the pages so that you will have a reference. This is especially true if there are notations written near the photos. In instances where I found notations, I carefully removed the photo from the page and then cut out the section with the notation. It was then put in a separate sleeve and keep with the photo. Also, I will lightly write in pencil the notation on the back of the photo. Be sure to do so as it was originally written."

[Bluehawk]

USMF member "siege1863" posted this excellent advice for dealing with photos mounted in old albums:
---------
"I have a number of photo collections that had to be removed from albums due to various reasons. Most of the war-time albums use highly acidic paper (the thick back stuff). Over time, this well cause photos to shift color or be "burned." I also removed photos because they were originally held in place using tape. The longer tape remains in place, the more damage it will do. The damage is usually a staining of the image. Every once in a while I will find mold or insect damage...

Addition 1.11.11:

http://www.usmilitar...rt=#entry721573

[Clayton]

Hello Gents:

I have heard Renaissance Wax is good for preserving old leather. Has anyone else heard that or has anyone ever used this wax? I believe it is made in England.

[Bluehawk]

Because of this thread posted by USMF member "hawkdriver": http://www.usmilitar...d...=113497&hl=
I thought it might be useful to single out microcystalline wax - one of the great inventions for preserving many types of artifacts.
-----------
SAFE to protect all these Materials:
Wood; raw & finished. Leather, Parchment & Paper. Metal; Silver, Silverplate, Gold, Copper & Copper Alloys (Bronze, Brass, Tin, Zinc, German Silver, Nickel), Lead & Pewter, Iron & Iron Alloys, Tin & Tin Alloys. Damascus; Stone, Marble, Onyx, Limestone, Granite, Brick, Tile, Terrazzo, Obsidian, Alabaster; Gems, Glass, Porcelain, Holloware, Bone, Ivory, Horn, Shell & Mother-of-Pearl, Gutta Percha, Dammars; Gilding & Gold Leaf, Patinas. Enamel, Lacquer, Japanning, Cloute, Pose d'Or, Pique Point, Varnish, Marbleizing, Stains & Artificial Graining. Plastics, Formicas, Paints, Polyvinyl Acetates, Esters of Polymethyacrylic, Polycyclohexanones, Fiberglas Epoxy Resins
-----------
Link see:
http://igiwax.com/in...rystalline-wax/

Microcrystalline Wax

Unrivalled range of melting point, hardness & color grades to meet specific end-product needs
Conformance to FDA requirements as outlined in 21 CFR 172.886 & 178.3710
For markets restricting use of BHT, most grades available without the addition of antioxidant
IGI Microcrystalline wax is supplied as granule, pellet, slabs or liquid bulk, all designed to fit your processing needs

Definition of Microcrystalline Wax

Microcrystalline wax is a refined mixture of solid, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, and produced by de-oiling certain fractions from the petroleum refining process. Microcrystalline waxes differ from refined paraffin wax in that the molecular structure is more branched and the hydrocarbon chains are longer (higher molecular weight). As a result the crystal structure of microcrystalline wax is much finer than paraffin wax, and this directly impacts many of the physical properties. Microcrystalline waxes are tougher, more flexible and generally higher in melting point than paraffin wax. The fine crystal structure also enables microcrystalline wax to bind solvents or oil, and thus prevent the sweating-out of compositions.

Comparison of Microcrystalline and Paraffin Waxes

Paraffin Wax

Mainly unbranched alkanes

Crystalline

Brittle

Translucent

Low melting (48 to 70ºC)

Glossy

Hard

White

Odorless


Microcrystalline Wax

Mainly branched alkanes

Amorphous

Malleable

Opaque

Higher melting (54 to 95ºC)

Adhesive

Soft

White to Colored

Odorless
------------
Reliable sources for:
http://www.woodfinis...com/RenWax.html
http://www.sculpt.co...8/Wax/Micro.htm
------------

[Bluehawk]

Hello Gents:

I have heard Renaissance Wax is good for preserving old leather. Has anyone else heard that or has anyone ever used this wax? I believe it is made in England.

I didn't see your inquiry until this evening.

"Renaissance Wax" (aka microcrystalline wax) is indeed a good leather preservative, in fact extremely good.

Attached Images

• 

[Bluehawk]

For long and short-term storage and preservation of most metals, especially outdoor and machinery, thinking in terms of alternatives to cosmoline:

Exxon Rust-BAN 397

I have personally used, on a regular basis over a period of years, Rust-BAN on bronze, grey metal, mild steel, cast iron, aluminum and stainless steel long-term outdoor. It is a very liquid product, easy to apply without leaving a permanent or sticky surface. One annual application is more than sufficient in most cases. It has a mildly solvent character as well good for removing accretions such as other petroleums, tar and the like.

Of course, it is not correct for Cor-Ten unless the natural rusted surface does not need to be retained.

Rust-BAN, as one example, comes in a variety of grades such as 397 (above), 628, 623, 343, 191 etc. Caution: it does contain benzene.

It can be obtained readily from industrial suppliers usually in minimum 5 gallon units.

http://www.mil-specp...om/brands/Exxon

[Bluehawk]

Here's another supplier resource that popped up, might be worth considering:

http://www.archivalusa.com/468g.html

[Bluehawk]

The following graphic comes from Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. 

 

In partnership with Penn Libraries, CCAHA has developed a free, printable poster picturing key preservation terms and guidelines in an easy-to-understand format. Here's the first graphic, on ideal temperature and humidity ranges for various objects. You can download the entire poster athttp://www.ccaha.org...nical-bulletins.

 

 

[Bluehawk]

Here's their graphic about Relative Humidity:

 

[Bluehawk]

This link will reveal how human saliva is used by professional conservators in certain circumstances, and is a gate into a very fine organization with tremendous resources having to do with preservation and conservation of historical artifacts:

 

http://conservation1...pit-and-polish/

[Bluehawk]

This is quite a good resource for proper storage of photographic artifacts:

 

http://www.ccaha.org...on.original.pdf

[skautdog]

Thanks to all for the information and resources.

 

ken

[Bluehawk]

Rare will be the one(s) among us who might ever need this information, but, just in case anyone is interested in oxygen-free storage of artifacts:

 

http://www.getty.edu...free_cases.html

[Bluehawk]

A very good video (1 hour) on the specific topic of caring for artifacts made of plastic:

 

http://www.scoop.it/...in-conservation