[NHCOLL-L:5283] Re: Sealing wet collection jars

[Herrera, Joan]

Dear Ashley:  We used to wrap a few turns of electrical tape around the lids and overlapping onto the jars.  This works pretty well, but leaves an adhesive residue when the jars are opened.  At this time we are using a plastic insert called a "caplug" supplied by a company called "caplugs".  They work very well and the company has a website.  You do need to make sure to use a lid that will tighten down over the top of the plug which should sit flush on the top of the glass.

Joan

Joan Herrera, Ph.D.
Curator of Collections
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 8th Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 896-8626 x1206
FAX (727) 823-0166



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Erik Åhlander
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 4:09 AM
To: 'NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu'
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5282] Re: Sealing wet collection jars

Dear Ashley,

Are the jars of the type with the the upper face grind to level? 

We have made experience during the last 10 yers with circular pieces of plain glass (ordered to size from the local glazier). On the contact areas we apply a thin cover of good quality grease (of the kind used in chemistry for dessicators, with silicon base, or previously, lanolin). To stop the glass lid to move, we wind around it with food wrap a few turns.

The temperature in our lab is a few degrees above that in our store room which creates a minor vacuum in the jars which has made this method quite successful. Our observation is also that a few turns with the food wrap is useful also on large glass jars with plastic twist lids. Evaporation is decreased but not stopped.

This technic is possible also for exhibition purpose, although more time consuming. We made some experiments with parafilm as a sealer some 20 years ago, but left it. It was quite difficult to make a nice job, but more important, 10 years later the parafilm is not elastic any longer - with reduced effect to lower evaporation.

(I never translated these technical terms to english before! Please, correct me if I am unclear!)

Erik


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Erik Åhlander, Collection Manager - Fishes
Swedish Museum of Natural History
(Naturhistoriska riksmuseet)
Section for Vertebrate Zoology
(Frescativagen 40)
P.O. Box 50007; S-104 05 STOCKHOLM, Sweden
Phone +46 8 51954118; Fax +46 8 51954212
Cellular +46 70 2252716
email: erik.ahlander at nrm.se
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Bentley, Andrew Charles
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 4:40 AM
To: AshleyH at cctexas.com; NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5281] Re: Sealing wet collection jars

Ashley

What you are looking for is definitely Parafilm as mentioned by a previous poster.  However, the jar image you posted looks very much like it has a Bakelite lid (hard black "plastic") which probably has a cardboard derivative liner (plastic coated most likely but cardboard nonetheless).  These lids are terrible to say the least and are not alcohol resistant. They are prone to cracking while the inner liner is prone to disintegration over time under exposure to alcohol.  Long term I would highly suggest replacing these lids with high quality lids from Kols Containers or similar that have much more effective alcohol resistant liners and will ensure minimal evaporation from your jars over long periods of time with little to no intervention.  You should be able to get lids to fit your existing jars (except the stopper type - not sure what these are.  Wouldn't mind seeing an image of one of these too).

I can send you samples of the various Kols lids we use if you are interested.  They are relatively inexpensive.  I have a price list too.

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager/Specify Usability Lead
University of Kansas
Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7593
USA
Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335
Email: ABentley at ku.edu

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From: Ashley Henderson <AshleyH at cctexas.com<mailto:AshleyH at cctexas.com>>
Reply-To: <AshleyH at cctexas.com<mailto:AshleyH at cctexas.com>>
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:45:54 -0600
To: "NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu<mailto:NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu>" <NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu<mailto:NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu>>
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5277] Sealing wet collection jars

Hi Everyone,

I am searching for a supply to seal the jar lids in our wet collection.  I purchased polypropylene sealing tape that is advertised for use with wet collections.  However, it has proven about as effective as wrapping scotch tape around the lids.  The lids were previously sealed with what appears to be very thin paraffin wax that came in tape form.  However, I cannot find this supply.  This link has an uploaded picture of the wax/tape substance http://i.imgur.com/uZUlM.jpg  Does anyone out there have any ideas on this or another way of sealing the lids?  Whatever I use must go on the exterior of the jars because many of the jars have a plug type lid.  Thanks in advance!



Ashley Henderson

Collection Manager
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
www.ccmuseum.com
(361) 826-4659


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