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.
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.
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