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From:
Sharon Little <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Textile Conservators <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 25 May 2006 14:14:37 -0400
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Hello Jennifer,

I talked with one of our metal specialists at the CCQ.  The aluminum tubing
we purchased was from a good quality hardware store. You could find
something similar at Home Hardware.  Apparently the process of anodization
is now standardized.  However, the longer the aluminum is left in the
anodizing bath, the thicker the anodized surface becomes - the longer the
process also makes the metal more brittle.  The military quality results in
a green-blackish finish.

For our needs at the CCQ, washing in detergent baths, there is no real
problem concerning the aluminum we have purchased.  The tubing allows for
an easy assembly of the parts, something that would be more difficult to
achieve with window screen frames.

Stainless steel tubing could also be purchased but the frames would become
much heavier, more costly, and it is usually more difficult to find an
expert for the soddering of the corners - and even stainless steel like
aluminum has its limitations where chemicals are involved.

I will be back towards the middle of June and then send you off some photos
of our aluminum frames.

Hope this helps,


Sharon


Sharon Little
Restauratrice
Responsable - Atelier des textiles

Ministère de la Culture et des Communications
Centre de conservation du Québec
1825, rue Semple
Québec (Québec) G1N 4B7

Téléphone:  (418)  643-7001  poste 230
Télécopieur:  (418)  646-5419
[log in to unmask]
http://www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca


                                                                           
                         Jennifer                                          
                         Hadley                                            
                         <HadleyJ@LD                                    A: 
                         SCHURCH.ORG         [log in to unmask]    
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                               Texti         Re: RE wash tub screening     
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                         2006-05-23                                        
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Sharon,

  Thank you so much for your reply!  There is an anodized aluminum that is
used for window screen frames; is this the same as what you used?  We had
discussed purchasing some from the local hardware store, but I've had
trouble finding any information on whether or not they would off-gas, or
cause any other problems.  I understand there are different types of
anodizing that react differently.  Do you know what method was used for
your tubes?  I would be very interested in any photographs you may have of
this system.

Thank you again!
Jennifer


Jennifer Hadley
Associate Registrar
Museum of Church History and Art
(801) 240-0297
[log in to unmask]

>>> "Sharon Little" <[log in to unmask]> 05/23/06 2:56 PM >>>

Hello Jennifer,

The CCQ textile lab has a  6 ft. x 10 ft. stainless steel wash sink.
Several years ago I designed and contracted out the production of anodized
aluminum flat tubes that could be screwed together to make different sized
frames, which could fit in this large wash sink.  The tubes come in various
lenghts from 7 ft., 6 ft., 5 ft., 4 ft., 2 ft., and 1 foot lenghts (
lenghts are ordered according to the need).  The corner sections measure 6
inches x 6 inches.  The tubing measures 2 inches wide x 1 inch thick and
the aluminum itself is 1/8 inch thick. The lenghts and corners are kept
together by inserting solid bars of anodized aluminuum 3 inches long x  1&
11/16 inches wide x 3/4 inch thick.  They are screwed to the alumium tubes
using stainless steel screws. Storage is compact as the frames can be
dismantled. Support screening depends on the size and type of textile
requiring support.  Geodesic fabrics to common household screening have
been used.   When it has been important to avoid major fabric distortion
during the washing treatment, textiles have been pinned to household
screening that has been wraped around the flat tubes.  The household
screening affords some elasticity and the straight pins alow for
adjustment.

The washing treatment of a tapestry requred the fabrication of a tempory
sink (wooden sides covered with a plastic swimming pool liner). Most of the
aluminum parts were put together to support the washing/rinsing/draining
of the tapsetry measuring 9 ft. x  13ft.   In this case a very open weave
geodesic fabric was used to support the tapestry.

This "mechano type" of aluminum structure has proved to be very useful and
the metal shows no visual change.  My gratitude goes to go my two wonderful
sons -  my inspiration came from one of their toys that involved the use of
various types of plastic tubing that could be assembled, with differnt
types of outside joints, to make various types of three dimensional
structures, such as a chair, table, rocking horse etc.


I  appreciate  the  neutral,  lightweight  and strong qualities of aluminum
tubing  - this article appeared in a past issue of the Canadian Association
for  Conservation of cultural Property (CAC), September 2003 vol 28, No. 3.
:

««Sharon  Little  was responsible for the  treatment a 16th century Flemish
tapestry  and  a  20th century tapestry attributed to Micheline Beauchemin.
Both  required  deviation  from the standard textile conservation equipment
and procedures.   During treatment, the Flemish tapestry was supported by a
net  of geodesic textile that had been wrapped about an aluminium stretcher
type  frame  and  wet  cleaned in a large temporary bath constructed from a
swimming  pool  linerthat  was supported by a wooden frame, the water being
evacuated with the use of a sump pump.  The tapestry will soon be installed
on  a  tapestry  conservation loom and undergo extensive consolidation over
the  next  few  years.   Following  light  cleaning  and  realignment,  the
construction  techniques and materials, weight, and modern slick appearance
of  the  20th  century  tapestry required the construction of a custom made
stretcher  frame.  The  frame  was  composed  of:  flat  hollow 2.5cm thick
aluminium  tubes;  the  spaces  of  the frame were filled in with sheets of
polycarbonate  to maintain a flat supporting surface; bands of wood,treated
with latex paint were added to the four outside edges of the frame for both
lining canvas and tapestry attachment  purposes; and the completed unit was
covered  with  a  linen canvas for both decorative and attachment purposes.
As  the  tapestry  was  to  be installed in the board room of the Caisse de
dépôt  du  Québec, in Montréal, and the desire of the owner was to maintain
the  modern  slick appearance it was not possible to attach the tapestry to
the  frame using velcro.  Instead the upper horizontal edge of the tapestry
was  treated  as a painting, by stapling the unfinished portion of the edge
to  the  back  of  the  stretcher  frame using non-corrosive  staples.  The
remaining  three  finished  outside edges and the main internal segments of
the  tapestry  were  treated  like  a textile and stitched in place using a
curved  surgical  needle  and a heavy linen thread.  The combination of the
aluminium  and  poycarbonate provided a discreetly thin (2.5cm),strong, and
lightweight  mounting  devise  for a large (4m x 1.3m) and heavy (23 kilos)
contemporary tapestry.»»

If anyone would like some photograhic documention, let me know and I will
send it out towards the end of June 2006.

Regards,


Sharon Little

Restauratrice
Responsable - Atelier des textiles

Ministère de la Culture et des Communications
Centre de conservation du Québec
1825, rue Semple
Québec (Québec) G1N 4B7

Téléphone:  (418)  643-7001  poste 230
Télécopieur:  (418)  646-5419
[log in to unmask]
http://www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca





                         Jennifer
                         Hadley
                         <HadleyJ@LD                                    A:
                         SCHURCH.ORG         [log in to unmask]
                         >                                             cc:
                         Envoyé par
                               :                                    Objet:
                               Texti         wash tub screening
                               le
                               Conse
                               rvato
                               rs
                               <TEXC
                               ONS@S
                               I-LIS
                               TSERV
                               .SI.E
                               DU>

                         2006-05-18
                               12:05





Hello everyone,

   I have been looking at our textile washing facilities and would like to
upgrade our screening system.  Currently we have a metal tub with a metal
rack that can be lowered into the water.   My predecessor bought commercial
window screens to lay the textiles on.  These screens include the metal
frame, which creates a problem.  The screens are not big enough for many of
the textiles to lay in one frame.  They must be laid over the metal edge
onto another screen to be washed.  The metal edges get have gotten pretty
mucky over the years and leave a gray residue on anything they touch.  I
don't like them in the water, let alone with the textiles right on top of
the metal.  I would like to create new, multi sized, screens to facilitate
safe cleaning.  Two of my associates suggested either creating frames with
PVC or vinyl window frames.  I was hoping to get some feedback on the
suggested framing materials, as well as what others have done with their
washing systems.

Thank you,

Jennifer Hadley
Associate Registrar
Museum of Church History and Art
(801) 240-0297
[log in to unmask]


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