[NHCOLL-L:5986] Re: How to, and would you, repair a bird specimen?

[Julia Sybalsky]

Dear Kristen,
In our lab, if reattachment of a detached part is necessary/advisable, we would recommend using a stable, easily reversible adhesive with good aging characteristics. Most commonly we use an appropriate concentration of Paraloid B-72 dissolved in solvent, sometimes with a material like goldbeaters skin, japanese tissue, or spun-bond polyester sheet if one needs to provide added stability to the join. For repairs requiring greater flexibility, we use BEVA film applied to spun-bond polyester sheet and adhered with gentle heat. We would not recommend the use of hot glue, because most types have poor aging characteristics and it must be removed mechanically if you want to reverse the join.

Best,
Julia Sybalsky
Assistant Conservator
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
212-313-7533
jsybalsky at amnh.org

On Apr 17, 2012, at 1:41 PM, Couteaufin at aol.com wrote:

> Dear Kirsten
>  
> I have a long history of repairing birds but in a more ethically-correct manner and have not (yet) resorted to hot glue!  For re-attaching a tail I use neutral pH PVA and wrap some glue-moistened Gampi tissue around the insertion part of the tail and spread some glue around the cavity on the body using a spatula, ensuring that some soaks into the wood wool or hempen filling but without getting any glue on the surrounding feathers.  Then the tail is inserted and pinned into place.  Leave it overnight, remove pins, realign the tail support armature wire under the tail and there you are.
>  
> If you need to be really ethically correct then use pearl (fish) glue dissolved in warm water and isopropanol mix.  Rather smelly though!
>  
> With all good wishes, Simon
> 
> Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
> Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
> 
>  www.natural-history-conservation.com 
> www.pocket-fruit-knives.info 
> 
> http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve 
>  
> In a message dated 17/04/2012 17:51:22 GMT Daylight Time, norops at gmail.com writes:
> Our museum has a long history of "repairing" specimens that get damaged (in the myriad ways that damage happens).  Because more of our specimens are used for teaching and exhibiting than for research, perhaps this makes sense.  However (and not having been formally trained in this), the methods used concern me and I'm asking you all the question of whether specimens should be repaired, and if so how?  Specifically, in this case, I'm asking  about a bird specimen who's tail has fallen off (and it happens that this is one of two specimens that we have of this MI endemic and endangered species in our collection).  It had been on display for years, but that display has now been removed and apparently the tail was damaged in the process.  
> 
> I'm curious as to what you guys all do, recognizing that if often all depends on the details and circumstances.
> 
> What bothers me the most is the the historical "treatment" for most repairs was hot glue.  I guess if the specimen was in a teaching collecting and dedicated only for that, and had little if any provenance, then maybe it doesn't matter so much.  But what would you do in this case?  My gut feeling is to say leave it alone, it goes back into the research collection and keep the tail with the body.
> 
> Thanks for any help you can offer,
> 
> Kirsten
> 
> -- 
> Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D
> 
> Assoc. Prof. Biology          and       Curator of Natural History
> Dept. of Biology                             Museum of Cultural and Natural History
> 217 Brooks Hall                            103 Rowe Hall
> Central Michigan Univ.                 Central Michigan University 
> Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859                 Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
> 989-774-3758                                989-774-3829
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 

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