Wax

Regarding the question from Craig Deller about whitish material on
wax, I wonder if this is related to the whitish, glaucous film that
develops on colored pencil drawings. That film may be crystals from
the wax in the pencil, as suggested by another list member (i.e.,
the crystals from wax).  What develops on colored pencil can be
buffed off.  I believe it is prevented by spraying the drawings with
a fixative such as Krylon Workable Fixative as soon as the drawing
is completed.  However, I do not know the archival effects of these
fixatives.

Elaine R.S. Hodges, Scientific Illustrator
MRC 169, National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C. 20560
202-357-2128
Fax: 202-786-2894

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:4
                   Distributed: Friday, June 28, 1996
                        Message Id: cdl-10-4-004
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