[NHCOLL-L:2000] Re: digest 801

[Alexandra M. Snyder]

Just wanted to add  a caveat re: lid replacement in wet collections.  Be 
aware that when the old lids (BakLite or metal) are removed,  there may be 
detritus, rust or whatever, left on the jar threads from the old (bad) 
lids.  Even if a new (archivally-correct) lid is screwed on over this 
"stuff", there will not be a good seal.  Evaporation will occur.  (It is 
the same senario with gaskets and bail top jars...placing new gaskets on 
rim of jar caked with old gasket material will not make a good seal; just 
tip the jar and it will leak.)   Even minute, seemingly innocuous bits of 
dirt on jar rims will prevent good contact between jar and lid.

Frankly, when I have been faced with replacing a lot of jar lids in 
neglected collections,  I found that it was simply easier (?)  to move the 
collections into brand new jars with brand new lids.  Later, I would later 
go through the old jars and salvage those that were not terribly encrusted 
with rust or detritus (or otherwise compromised by age, like delaminating 
and so forth)  and that they could be washed and easily cleaned.  However, 
I have recycled or tossed out more old jars,   because they would take more 
time to salvage (labor cost) than was financially prudent; it sometimes is 
cheaper to buy new jars to go with the lids.

However, I have been in the position of not having enough money to buy new 
jars and have expended a lot of elbow grease washing them.  Since 
"necessity is the mother of invention" I have had to come up with some 
tricks to save time and water, that will get the jars clean with minimal 
effort.  I can pass these along, off line, for anyone faced with jar 
washing.  (And there is a lot of that in curation of wet collections.)


-----Original Message-----
From: janet gillette [mailto:jgillette at MNA.mus.az.us]
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 6:49 PM
To: 'NHCOLL-L at LISTS.YALE.EDU'
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:1988] wet collections questions

My background is paleontology collections so now that I've inherited care of
a small fluid preserved collection I'm in need of advice.  We have limited
support (~$500) to replace about 1,100 Bakelite and metal jar lids with more
appropriate museum quality lids & liners.

I've done some research and found reference that polypropylene lids and &
Teflon liners are preferred.  In talking with representative of Kols
Containers I was told that while Teflon may be preferred, the reality is
that most institutions can't afford it and use foamed polyethylene liners
instead.  Is this true?  Is there a big difference in quality between the
two?  Should we settle for the polyethylene liners?

Also, alcohol fumes in the wet collection room are very strong.  The room is
small, of cinder block construction, and lacks ventilation.  I'd like to
install an exhaust fan to vent fumes.  Should this fan be explosion
proof/spark proof?  I expect this will be expensive, perhaps well beyond our
budget.  Are there other safe alternatives?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Cheers,
Janet

Janet Whitmore Gillette
Assoc Collection Manager, Natural History
Museum of Northern Arizona
3101 N. Fort Valley Road
Flagstaff, AZ  86001
(928) 774-5211 ext 265
 jgillette at mna.mus.az.us


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Alexandra M. Snyder, Collection Manager
Division of Fishes   MSC03 2020
Museum of Southwestern Biology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131 USA
Ph 505.277.6005  Fax 505.277.3218
amsnyder at unm.edu
http://msb-fish.unm.edu