In California's earthquake country, we've used microcrystalline wax (sold as "quake" wax in California, "museum" wax elsewhere) with mixed results.  In warm weather, it comes off too easily and provides little security; in cold weather (<55F) it is too difficult to remove and has
the potential of damaging objects.  We've also found that it does not come off cleanly (including non-porous surfaces), leaving some wax behind which is difficult to remove without scraping (again, potential to damage objects).  It's supposed to be inert, but who knows (this is
worth an AIC investigation).

I know the company has also come out with a clear gel for glass materials, which appears to leave no significant residue, however, I don't know what the material is actually made of nor its long-term effects (another AIC investigation?).

Max van Balgooy
Homestead Museum

Kathy Mancuso wrote:

> Just out of curiousity, what do people think of the various "gallery waxes"
> you can buy at art supply stores?  I have found that they hold fairly light
> objects even to textured walls, and that they are useful for leveling
> artwork and holding small pieces (ie lids) to clay/sculpture which is not
> going to be put in a vitrine, but I wonder about conservation issues and
> getting it off valuable objects.
>
> In my personal life (ie dorm), I have the same sort of situation--the
> university disallows tacks and nails, yet we have textured wallpaper (ie
> nothing, except gallery wax sticks!).  I'm trying to figure out how to hang
> my collection of movie posters and art posters (which have a lot of
> sentimental value and would be relatively hard to replace).  Suggestions?
>
> Kathy Mancuso
>
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M. A. van Balgooy
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Chaffey Communities Cultural Center & Cooper Regional History Museum
  PO Box 772 • Upland, CA 91785-0772
  Telephone (909) 982-8010
  Web site:  http://www.culturalcenter.org

Homestead Museum
  15415 East Don Julian Road • Industry, CA  91745-1029
  Telephone (626) 968-8492
  Fax  (626) 968-2048
  Web site:  http://www.homesteadmuseum.org

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Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).