I would only worry about insects attacking your wheat paste if you have a strong and active infestation in your institution.  In that case, you have bigger problems!  Methyl cellulose is not as strong as wheat starch paste, which is why it is not used very much for hinging artwork- which requires a certain amount of strength.  Wheat starch paste, on the other hand, has a long history of use for hinging as well as lining, repairing, etc.  It is very strong- even when thinned to the consistancy of very watery skim milk.

By the way, make sure that you are using wheat *starch* paste--- not wheat paste.  The starch paste is a purer form of the paste.  It can be ordered through most conservation suppliers.  If you need more info on this, let me know.

Jayne Girod Holt
Paper conservator

>>> [log in to unmask] 09/21/01 08:20AM >>>

Some time ago, before I joined the staff, my institution switched from using methyl cellulose to wheat paste for hinging works of art on paper. The person who researched these materials is long gone and left no notes, and we are uncertain as to the relative merits of these two
bonding agents. Given the recent note on this list about the appetizing nature of wheat paste to art-destroying insects, we're wondering if we should switch back to the methyl cellulose. Can anyone advise?

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