[Nhcoll-l] question about polyethylene bag "tubing" for specimens

[John E Simmons]

Laura,
The main differences in 2 mil vs 4 mil are (1) the 2 mil is more flexible
but (2) the 4 mil is tougher to penetrate (thus less likely to be damaged
by a claw or beak).

You might want to email a few suppliers and ask if they could send you
samples of the various thicknesses. Years ago, when I was still at KU, I
had a sample packet that had small pieces of the various thicknesses of
plastic that was very useful for selecting the thickness needed for
different tasks. There are online guides (such as
https://www.discountvisqueen.com/plastic-sheeting-thickness.php) but
nothing beats holding the plastic between your fingers to see how thick and
flexible it is.

Good luck with this project!!!

--John

John E. Simmons
Writer and Museum Consultant
Museologica
*and*
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima


On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 11:05 PM Fran Ritchie <franritchie at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Laura!
>
> I agree with Andy - I've seen some NPS sites that placed their study skins
> in the polyethylene tubes. They've been in controlled museum storage for
> several years now and although I've never performed a specific survey, I
> haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary. Not sure the thickness,
> though.
>
> As an aside, these were placed in bags also with the intention to protect
> staff, but this is not necessary if you're wearing PPE and practicing good
> hygiene. For anyone handling these collections, wear nitrile or latex
> gloves and wash your hands immediately after removing gloves (after you're
> done working). Vacuum work areas with HEPA vacuums. I understand why you're
> needing to place them in the tubes, I just don't want folks worried that it
> must be done across collections.
>
> And now, taking this chance to plug an upcoming panel at the next meeting
> of the American Institute for Conservation in May. The panel is Arsenic in
> Collections and will feature case studies from institutions who are
> successfully managing/working with collections that have arsenic as an
> intrinsic component. Friday, May 24th at 10:30.
>
> Best,
> Fran
>
> On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 7:32 PM Abraczinskas, Laura <abraczi1 at msu.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> Greetings Andy,
>>
>> Thank you so much!  I appreciate the information.  It seems a useful
>> product, for a variety of reasons, and a better option than zip bags or
>> pre-sized polyethylene bags.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>>
>> Laura Abraczinskas
>>
>> Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
>>
>> Collections Manager, Vertebrate Collections
>>
>> Michigan State University Museum
>>
>> 409 West Circle Drive
>>
>> East Lansing, Michigan  48824
>>
>> USA
>>
>>
>>
>> (517) 355-1290 (Office)
>>
>>
>>
>> *Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and
>> contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe,
>> Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the
>> 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.*
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, March 07, 2024 7:18 PM
>> *To:* Abraczinskas, Laura <abraczi1 at msu.edu>
>> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
>> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] question about polyethylene bag "tubing" for
>> specimens
>>
>>
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>>
>> We have used this poly sheeting to store a number of our large gar heads
>> in our dry collection long term and have not noticed any ill effects.
>> Depending on the humidity and temperature of the storage space you may get
>> some condensation on the inside of the bags if not packaged in a dry
>> environment.
>>
>>
>>
>> Not sure that 2ml or 4ml would make much difference in that regard.  4ml
>> may be a little more durable to puncture by spiny or rough objects so may
>> be worth the investment.  We use the same material we use for packing loans
>> so that we only have to order one kind and have a large stock of it.  We
>> use the 4ml.
>>
>>
>>
>> Andy
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mar 7, 2024, at 4:14 PM, Abraczinskas, Laura <abraczi1 at msu.edu> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> Dear NHColl list members,
>>
>> I am seeking advice about sealing specimens within polyethylene bag
>> “tubing” for temporary storage during a collections move.  This is an
>> example of the “tubing”, which is a roll of open-ended polyethylene bags
>> that contents are sealed within by use of a heat sealing machine.  (We have
>> a tabletop impulse sealer).
>>
>> https://www.uline.com/BL_200/Cleanroom-Poly-Tubing
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.uline.com/BL_200/Cleanroom-Poly-Tubing__;!!HXCxUKc!ymc0MDXRapx2VPSVPiw6BGJ90-vZ8WpkGYIMNJceBoheXyiFf1pKrMMTpCWM380kKGUzsfCzs0OS3XXVJw$>
>>
>>
>>
>> The Michigan State University Museum is preparing for a temporary move of
>> the dry vertebrate collections before a building-wide HVAC renovation
>> project begins!  Specimens will be temporarily stored off site for about 18
>> months. Specimens will not be stored in their usual cabinets but packed
>> into boxes or other containers and secured at an art storage facility with
>> climate control.
>>
>>
>>
>> We are wondering about use of this product for bird and mammal skins or
>> taxidermy mounts, or other dry specimens. The vendor has asked that we bag
>> and seal anything that may contain arsenic before it is housed at their
>> facility.
>>
>>
>>
>> We are thinking this might be good for pest management too, during the
>> temporary storage.
>>
>>
>>
>> Does anyone have thoughts about this idea?  If a go, would 4 mil
>> polyethylene be recommended, rather than 2 mil?
>>
>> If the Uline product is not appropriate, is there another recommended
>> source?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks so much!
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>>
>> Laura Abraczinskas
>>
>> Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
>>
>> Collections Manager, Vertebrate Collections
>>
>> Michigan State University Museum
>>
>> 409 West Circle Drive
>>
>> East Lansing, Michigan  48824
>>
>> USA
>>
>>
>>
>> (517) 355-1290 (Office)
>>
>>
>>
>> *Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and
>> contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe,
>> Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the
>> 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.*
>>
>>
>>
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>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
>> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
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> _______________________________________________
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>
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