Lead

Alan J. Hawk <hawk [at] afip__osd__mil> writes

>I have a model of a ship made in 1875 for the Centennial Exposition.
>Some of the parts (such as the steering wheel and pullies) were cast
>from lead. However, the lead has developed a heavy white powdery
>coating (which I assume is oxidation) that is falling to the floor
>of the case.  What is the best treatment to stabilize the lead?  I
>was considering gently brushing off the powder and then painting the
>lead with Arcoloid B-72 liquid.  Would that be a good approach? What
>are your suggestions?

To conserve the lead, I've never heard of anyone using B72, but I
suppose it would work.  Microcrystalline wax has been used, I think,
in museum environments.  There's also an interesting approach to
reconstitution of metallic lead described in Lynn Nosek,
"Investigation and Conservation of a Lead Paten," Studies in
Conservation, v. 30, no. 1, February 1985, pp. 19-22.

Julie L. Sloan
Stained Glass Consultant
54 Cherry St.
North Adams, MA  01247
413-663-5512
Fax: 413-663-7167


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 14:34
               Distributed: Wednesday, December 20, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-14-34-006
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