[NHCOLL-L:5989] Re: How to, and would you, repair a bird specimen?

Wed Apr 18 07:29:32 EDT 2012

Dear All,

Just a quick comment on adhesives - I prefer PVA as it is reversible  in 
water (I know it takes a while) whereas solvent-based adhesives, which are  
reversible can more easily seep into the feathers during the reversal process  
and clog them up.

With all good  wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Conservator of Natural  Sciences and Cutlery Historian,

_www.natural-history-conservation.com_ 
(http://www.natural-history-conservation.com/)  
_www.pocket-fruit-knives.info_ (http://www.pocket-fruit-knives.info/)  

_http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve_ 
(http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve)   

In a message dated 18/04/2012 12:09:36 GMT Daylight Time, CAHawks at aol.com  
writes:

Hi Kirsten

I add my support for the method Julie supplied - it's the approach I've  
used for years and like very much. It is easily reversible in acetone or  
ethanol.

Cathy

Catharine  Hawks
Conservator, NMNH
(h) 703.876.9176
(o) 202.633.0835
mobile  703.200.4370
mobile 202.701.8458

In a message dated 4/17/2012 2:35:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
orangeskyblue at mac.com writes:

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_ (mailto:jsybalsky at amnh.org) 

On Apr 17, 2012, at 1:41 PM, _Couteaufin at aol.com_ 
(mailto: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_ 
(http://www.natural-history-conservation.com/)  
_www.pocket-fruit-knives.info_ (http://www.pocket-fruit-knives.info/)  

_http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve_ 
(http://uk.linkedin.com/in/naturalsciencespecimenconserve)   

In a message dated 17/04/2012 17:51:22 GMT Daylight Time, 
_norops at gmail.com_ (mailto: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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