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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Melissa,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contrary to its makers’ assertions, Blu-tak bleeds oil and stains anything it touches. The same is true of modeling clay, plasticine, putty and anything that remains pliable in air.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We worked on this problem for some while and concluded that the only method for holding specimens that won’t leave a residue is a scaleable mechanical holder. You can read about the one we came up with here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347950720_A_simple_system_for_holding_mollusk_shells_and_other_small_objects_for_photography">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347950720_A_simple_system_for_holding_mollusk_shells_and_other_small_objects_for_photography</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also use black sand or felt bags full of lead shot to prop larger things up in the desired position. Both work well.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Paul Callomon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA<br>
<i><a href="mailto:prc44@drexel.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">prc44@drexel.edu</span></a> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b>From:</b> Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Melissa Holt<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 19, 2021 7:57 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Blu-tak on specimens<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-variant:small-caps">External.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">Hi all, </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">I was looking for some advice on alternatives for blu-tak when used on natural science specimens. I know there is no perfect solution but the scientists
at our museum continue to use it and I am hoping there is something better. They use it a lot in housing to keep a specimen in place or during microscopy. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">Melissa.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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