Receiving objects from tropical climates

Karen Potje <kpotje<-at->cca<.>qc<.>ca> writes

>We recently received some very large wooden models that came from a
>tropical climate.  The models had recently been constructed in a
>facility that had no climate control and so they were damp when
>packed in crates built by the artist himself.  ...

It sounds as if the wood might be green and not seasoned; not even
seasoned to the humid clime of its origin.  If that is the case then
seasoning the wood would be a first step before considering
construction and shipping. Seasoning of wood is generally considered
essential, for a product from a tree.  Air drying lumber/timber
under a roof is available to all who have time; kiln drying also
exists for some.  Some dividing of larger wood parts may be
necessary to enable faster seasoning.  Different effects arise from
using non-seasoned wood (warp, mold, etc), and these may be the
artist's intent.  I think you need to compare the MC of the exported
wood objects vs. MC in the destination.

Hugh Glover
Williamstown MA, USA


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:33
                 Distributed: Friday, January 30, 2015
                       Message Id: cdl-28-33-003
                                  ***