AIC's 47th Annual Meeting

With over 40 years of experience, it is inevitable that any conservator would come up with a variety of ways to solve problems and to exercise efficiency.   Over the course of my career, I have developed some tips and tricks when it comes to paper conservation, specifically, with regard to solvent work and to washing paper artifacts. Pressure sensitive tape has always been a problem.  Ever since its inception it has been used to mend tears on works of art on paper.  There have been a number of discussions and articles exploring the history of adhesives and the processes by which to remove both the adhesive and the associated staining (Stiber Morenus/ O'Loughlin).  Stiber Morenus and O'Loughlin's research is thorough with great historical and chemical overview that can assist any conservator in understanding adhesives that have presented themselves in their practice.  To this work, however, I would like to add some practical suggestions in trying to minimize toxic exposure to requisite solvents.  These are techniques’ that I have been using over several decades which produce superior results.
The topics include: the use of “Kick-a-poo juice”™  (a five solvent cocktail which I developed in the 1980s) which has proven to be an efficient method to remove pressure sensitive tape adhesive residue;  the effective use of a vacuum suction platen; the use of disposable liquid pipettes and making disposable polyester vapor chamber trays for solvent delivery.   These last two techniques enable minimal exposure to handling solvents for the conservator.
Lastly, I want to introduce or reintroduce the use of polyester washing sleeves.  The ease of their construction and the protection they offer when handling wet and fragile items is invaluable for paper conservators when conducting any aqueous treatment.