Re: Teflon Roll Supplier

["Ashley McGrew" <amcgrew@getty.edu>]

Betsy,

Thanks for getting back to the group with that information!
Teflon threadseal is amazing stuff. 

For those folks in your various institutions who demonstrate a healthy
skepticism towards unfamiliar materials I would mention that this
materials use goes back a little bit at least. Highly respected
conservator, researcher and educator Nancy Odegaard coauthored a nice
article for The Journal of the American Institute of Conservation on the
use of Teflon threadseal film for storage mounts. Try typing in:

http://aic.stanford.edu/jaic/articles/jaic36-03-007.html

I would encourage people to give the material a try. I have used it for
storage mounts and for shipping extraordinarily delicate objects (it is
hard to get less abrasive than flexible Teflon)! When used in
combination with batting the batting conforms perfectly to the object
and can help to mitigate vibration.


Here are three reasons that I think that this material has not used
more.

One reason is that the material is so thin.
It is odd to deal with something that is so very thin. The thing is that
it is much tougher it might seem just because it stretches so much. Also
using it in combination with batting accommodates this flexibility and
works better than just covering foam.
If you are really uncomfortable about this you can use two layers
together.
That way you add thickness but since the layers slip against each other
you don’t loose the flexibility you are going for.

Another reason people are reluctant to use the material is that it is
perceived as being so expensive.
It seems costly by the pound but it is so thin that you get an awful lot
for your money.
If you do the math, it comes out to be fairly reasonable, especially
since it performs in ways that no other material can. 
Ten pounds can represent a “lifetime supply” for most institutions but
you could also go in with another local institution if the investment is
too dear for your museum.

Finally it can be odd to work with especially if you normally use a
tuck-in method to secure your pad/cavity “upholstery” or contact
material.
It is disconcerting using the Teflon because when you go to tuck it in,
it is so slippery that it tends to immediately un-tuck itself!
The simple solution is just to do the opposite of what you normally want
to do. Leave a little extra batting around the edges (just a thin layer)
to tuck into the slit you have cut. 
When you go to cover your pad/cavity and tuck it in the Teflon will stay
put. If you don’t overstretch the Teflon it may not require the use of
any glue at all.
If your mount will get frequent handling (multiple venues vs. just
normal storage) then, if you have a hot glue gun with a pointy tip, you
can (moving quickly) insert the tip into the slit and shoot a bead below
the surface of the foam where it isn’t obtrusive. A nice little detail.

There are some other cool uses for this material but this message is all
ready too long.

Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the group. I think it is
one of the most underutilized packing/storage materials out there!
Sincerely, 





T. Ashley McGrew
Lead Preparator
J. Paul Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive 
Los Angeles, CA  90049-1687
Phone 310-440-6424
Fax 310-440-7741
amcgrew@getty.edu
>>> "Betsy Bruemmer" <betsy.bruemmer@seattlehistory.org> 07/19/07 3:35
PM >>>
Thank you all for your responses to my question. I found what I was
looking for. This is a product I was introduced to in the Anthro.
Conservation Lab at NMNH/SI. We used it to cover the surface area
between an artifact and an ethafoam block, for example in cavity
packing. We often put a soft layer of pellon or batting down first. It's
very slick, literally and figuratively.

In case you are interested, the product is called Relic Wrap It is
available from Gaylord as well as Plastomer Technologies in Newtown, PA.
Gaylord has it 10"W x 100'L roll (1.1 lb.) for $98.90. Plastomer has a
10 lb. minimum order -packaged on 10" - 12" unslit rolls andMuseum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA   98112
(P) 206-324-1126 x22
(F) 206-324-1346
www.seattlehistory.org