mothproofing deterent

[Jennifer Hein <jhein@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Wool storage personnel & Angelika in Germany,

I have read the agents suggested and also Mary Ballards's list of good
site deterrents. I would like to suggest something active.

I recently exchanged the back to the front of a pair of mexican wovens
on a cloth mount after long term display & found 1 natural wool object
infested with moths while the other which had bleached wool was NOT
infested at all.  I did a buffer sandwich before remounting it to try
to control moisture.

The reasons the moths fluorish is damp & darkness. So I try to disperse
moisture buildup. According to mary's guidelines,  install fans in the
areas with instruments that have more moth issues.

For my suggestion I submit what I have named moisture or "rH Buffer
boards." I try to get absorbent materials as close as possible to the
fabric or any organic material with problems.

I cut an archival corrugated "blue board as a backing, add a layer of
undyed finely combed cotton batting, 1/4" thick (Select) Dream Cotton)
then cover with 100% well washed cotton or nubby silk from Testfabrics.
All of these should be unbleached for the best result.
These rH buffer boards work like silica but can be placed easier with
velcro dots to wood.  If your budget allows you can insert a sheet of
Artsorb in also.
Just as a curiosity you may want to try a wool bait to distract them
from your instruments old wool but it is very hard to find wool that is
not processed with strong finishes that are not already mothproofed.
(Try Testfabrics) Any Scottish or English handspinners who weave wool
bits in the country there?  Plus these may be so attractive inside the
instrument that you would attract more.... I believe the drier "rh
boards are your best alternative.
Also if they are played can they also be regularly opened? To allow
more light & air circulation inside the instrument.

If so can you make a soft cotton pillow to lay inside between the
instruments being used? These need to be removed but function to
control humidity in the same way.

Best wishes,
A preventive conservator & textile specialist in the US Middle states
Jennifer Hein
PO Box 90379, Indpls., IN 46290
1-866-575-9296 Toll free in US

PROBLEM WAS:
>large collection of historical keyboard instruments.
 various types of wool felt.
mostly glued to the wooden parts of the instruments.
to mothproof these wooly bits "in situ" ?
> Angelika Riley
>
> Textilrestaurierung
> Museum für Kunst und  Gewerbe
> Steintorplatz
> D-20099 Hamburg
> Germany
> Tel: 040/428 54 27 53
> Fax: 040/427 92 92 35
>
>

--Jennifer Hein
Preservation Consultant
Historic Object Conservator of Textiles, Leather & Ethnography
PO Box 90379, Indianapolis, IN 46290
317-575-9296
CoreComm Webmail.
http://home.core.com