Source for cotton wool sought

We are having difficulty finding a supplier in the UK of a high
(surgical) quality, long fibre,  absorbent cotton wool for use in
the cleaning of paintings.  We had, for many years (like many other
UK conservators), been using a product supplied by Robinson
Healthcare of Chesterfield, namely their product Code No. 20161, but
this product has changed recently. Although they still supply cotton
wool under this product designation, it is not now of the same
quality as before, being short-fibred and full of lumps, and it is
not really acceptable for our purposes.  We have tried locating
samples of cotton wool similar to the old, good Robinson 20161 and,
as an interim measure are using 'Steraid' Absorbent Cotton Wool from
Robert Bailey <URL:http://www.cottonwool.uk.com>.  However, this is
still not of the quality we would prefer.

Our query, then, is whether any UK conservators know of a supplier
of surgical quality, absorbent, long-fibre, lump-free cotton wool.

Alan Phenix
Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 17:32
                  Distributed: Monday, October 6, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-17-32-025
                                  ***