ThermaCare air-activated heat packs

["Snug, Comforts for your Home" <snugcomforts@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jane

Could you give some more info on how this works to kill wool moths & larvae.  I am sure I am not the only one on the list interested in this method for some of our personal textiles, even if it isn't tested for conservation care. 

Thanx

Sheldon

On Thursday, January 13, 2005, at 06:50  PM, Jane Hammond wrote:

> I've also wondered the same.  I have used them to store my own woolens and have also experimented, successfully,  with non-traditional anoxic treatments on some bug-fested sweaters, using Space Bags and ThermaCaret air-activated heat packs sold in the drug stores for sports injuries.  The pacs appear to contain the same ingredients as Ageless (see below) and certainly have the same granular feel both before and after exhaustion of materials. Plus, the adhesive side designed to stick to your back allows the very warm packet to be attached to whichever side becomes "top" in the SpaceBag, away from the object. So far, the SpaceBags have provided an airtight seal - at least for the 8-hour life of the packets-and the packet/packets deactivated (cool down) within 30 min.  
>
> I mentioned this bit of Outsider Treatment to some textile conservators at a recent regional meeting but haven't really had time to really pursue the possibilities or do the investigative work needed. Any feedback or ideas would be greatly appreciated .  If proved safe, it would great to know emergency help for infestations was as close as the local drugstore.
>
> Jane Hammond
>
> Here's info about ThermaCare I just pulled up:
>
> ThermaCare is an innovative topical heat therapy that provides pain relief combined with long-lasting deep muscle relaxation. Each ThermaCare HeatWrap has a heat pack area composed of oval heat discs (ThermaCells) that contain iron, carbon, sodium chloride, sodium thiosulfate, and water. When these heat cells are exposed to atmospheric air, they undergo an exothermic oxidative reaction that produces detectable levels of heat (40°C) for up to eight hours. 
> On Jan 13, 2005, at 3:08 PM, Mary Ballard wrote:
>
> > Hi everyone: Our shy & retiring computer administrator Mignon (who keeps us
> > organized) sent us this query & there seems to be a lot of interest, so I
> > hope everyone will think about it & respond to the list, with cc:'s to the
> > originators.
> >
> > > > > > "Mignon Erixon-Stanford" <erixonm@xxxxxxxxxx> 01/13/05 02:18PM >>>
> > > Question for the textiles experts...
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Kiersten Latham" <kierstenl@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <RCAAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 1:01 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Space Bags
> > >
> > >
> > > I am VERY interested in this question too. Amazingly, I was just
> > thinking
> > > similar thoughts earlier this week!
> > >
> > > Kiersten F. Latham, Collection Manager
> > > Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center
> > > 1100 N. Plum    Hutchinson, KS 67501
> > > 620-662-2305 x309
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Registrars Committee of the AAM on behalf of Susan Smyer
> > > Sent: Thu 1/13/2005 11:51 AM
> > > To: RCAAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: Space Bags
> > >
> > > Good morning everyone,
> > >
> > > I need to store large numbers of sheet, pillowcases and wool blankets
> > > for lengthy periods of time and I don't have much climate-controlled
> > > space for storage.  Have any of you used  Space Bags that vacuum out air
> > > and compress the bags? They are made from polyethylene and nylon which
> > > is probably OK to use, but I would like to know if they off-gas or do
> > > anything horrible to textiles.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your help.
> > >
> > > Susan Smyer
> > > Collections Manager
> > > Battleship TEXAS SHS
> > > 3527 Battleground Rd.
> > > La Porte, TX  77571
> > > (281) 479-2431 ex.239
> > > susan.smyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Mary W. Ballard
> > Senior Textiles Conservator
> > Smithsonian Center for Materials Research & Education
> > 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD 20746 USA
> > tel: 301-238-1210 fax: 301-238-3709
> > email: ballardm@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Snug
Comforts for your Home

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Phone: 269 330-2305

snugcomforts@xxxxxxxxxxx

Please note the new email address.  

snugcomforts@xxxxxxxxxxx


PLEASE CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS BOOKS AND MAILING LIST AND START USING THE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS.  THANX

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The old one is still active, but I am going to be switching over at some point and want people to start using the new one.

Sheldon Schwitek
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49006

Ph: 269 345-9002
Cell: 269 330-2305

email:  sschwitek@xxxxxxxxxxx

We cannot in fairness rail against those 
who destroy the rain forest or 
threaten the spotted owl 
when we have made our own yards uninhabitable.

from "Noah's Garden" by Sara Stein