[Nhcoll-l] Ideas for orca teeth from ethanol to dry for display?

[John E Simmons]

I strongly recommend leaving them in alcohol. I you remove them, they will
dry out, beginning with the outer layers, and as they outer layers dry and
shrink the teeth will crack. Your best option is to make a cast of the
teeth and use the cast for exhibition purpose.

--John

John E. Simmons
Writer and Museum Consultant
Museologica
*and*
Associate Curator of Collections
Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
*and*
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima


On Sun, Feb 6, 2022 at 5:04 PM Betsy Carlson <bcarlson at ptmsc.org> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> We have a full set of orca teeth that have been preserved in ethanol since
> the female transient orca's skeleton was prepared for display in our museum
> over 15 years ago. We are looking for recommendations on how to keep them
> from cracking once they are removed from the ethanol, and the best way to
> preserve them for future use in the exhibit. The teeth will not go into the
> skeleton (there are replicas there now). But into a covered display case.
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you,
> Betsy
>
> ---
> Betsy Carlson *(she/her)*
> Citizen Science Coordinator
> *Port Townsend Marine Science Center*
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