Leather consolidation

Elizabeth Wild <ewild [at] mov__vic__gov__au> writes

>I have heard about some conservators using 4% Klucel E in ethanol or
>acetone and Klucel G mixed in ethanol to a "consistency of syrup".
>Has anyone used these particular recipes and if so, what were your
>results?

Klucel G has been a popular leather consolidant, but remember that
popular solvents can react with vegetable tannins. Julia Fenn wrote
in a paper (IIC Paris 1984, AATA Abstract 21-2322) that she had
compared Klucel G in ethanol and B-72 in diethylbenzene and found
the B-72 to have a better appearance when consolidating powdery
leathers.  She writes:

   "It seemed as if Klucel G in ethanol, as described by Hofenk-de
    Graaff would meet these requirements and for some rotted
    leathers it does indeed work very well. Unfortunately, skins
    themselves are so variable that the effects of a consolidant are
    not consistent from one artifact to another. Klucel C, for
    example, sometimes darkens the surface to an unacceptable
    extent, so it is sometimes necessary to have a range of suitable
    consolidants...."

Craig Deller
The Deller Conservation Group
Geneva, Illinois

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:21
                  Distributed: Friday, August 23, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-21-002
                                  ***