Coloured cotton swabs for cleaning tests

Judith Lee <judith.lee<-a t->tate< . >org< . >uk> writes

>I am carrying out a collaborative PhD at the Courtauld Institute of
>Art and Tate Britain looking at water-sensitivity in twentieth
>century oil paint.  I am completing a series of solvent sensitivity
>tests on a collection of naturally aged oil paint samples, using
>water, Shellsol D40, stoddards and IMS.  I have been using
>manufactured white cotton swabs for testing coloured paint samples,
>however for the white paint samples it becomes difficult to see when
>paint is removed.  Does anyone know if it is possible to buy
>coloured cotton swabs, which are resistant to solvents?

Have you looked into naturally-coloured cotton at all?  This is
fiber that comes from cotton plants specifically bred to express
different colours, some of which are relatively saturated.  (A quick
google shows fibers available in, among others, a deep fawn/brown.)
As it's not dyed, it should behave as white cotton, and not be
vulnerable to solvents. If you check resources for handspinners, you
should be able to track down suppliers--possibly even seeds, if you
want to be really sure what level of processing (or lack thereof)
the fiber has undergone.

Marie Jordan
Newport Medieval Ship Project


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:3
                  Distributed: Tuesday, June 24, 2014
                        Message Id: cdl-28-3-001
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