This is what we use for numbering most artifacts, made of ceramic, glass,
metal and other materials:
B-72 as a base coat (15% in Acetone solution will dry quickly); Pigma Micron
pens, 01 or 005, to write numbers; B-67 as a top coat (15% in mineral Spirit
or Stoddard Solvent).
The top coat will not affect the ink nor the base coat because of the
different solubilities.
The solutions should be stored in air tight glass jars, away from windows
and sources of heat.  Once the solvent has evaporated from the solution,
prepare a new one rather than adding more solvent.  Also, brushes should be
in good condition, clean and dry for an easier application.


Flavia Perugini, conservator
George Washington's Mount Vernon
P.O. Box 110
Mount Vernon, VA 22121
[log in to unmask]
www.mountvernon.org



-----Original Message-----
From: Hanson, Kate [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: B-72 - a possible alternative


Soluvar works well for me with Rapidograph ink pens.  Sometimes the ink
spreads when I use it on porcelain, but only if I apply the second coat
of Soluvar on too thick or don't let the ink dry for several hours.  For
black ink I just tried an Identi-pen from Gaylord.  It has a fine point
and an extra fine point and I think this is what I will be using from
now on, with Soluvar as base and top coat.

  I have used B72 with laser printed numbers and this seemed to adhere
better to the surface than when I used Soluvar.


Kate Hanson
Fidelity Investments


-----Original Message-----
From: Heidi Campbell-Shoaf [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 9:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: B-72 - a possible alternative


You may want to try soluvar. It is a non-yellowing varnish most often
used by artists. I was looking for clear medium for marking artifacts
when our source (Light Impressions) dried up. I talked with a collegue
who is the registrar at the Maryland Historical Society and she
suggested I try what they use which is soluvar. She has been using
longer than I have and said that it doesn't yellow or peel. They have
even gone so far as to experiment with printing numbers in very small
font on a laser printer (you can't do it with ink jet because the ink
runs)cutting them out and applying them between two layers of soluvar.
I've not tried this, but I have found that it does work with pigma
pens. Soluvar is available at artist supply stores. I ordered a can
from Talas, a conservation supply company and it will last me for many
years to come.

Heidi Campbell-Shoaf
Curator
Historical Society of Frederick County
24 E. Church St.
Frederick, MD 21701



On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 14:00:58 -0400
 Jenna Carroll-Plante <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> David and Amanda-
>
> I'm glad we're all discussing B-72 because my staff has been having
> some
> problems also.  We, too, just purchased it from Univ. Products and
> have
> found that after letting it dry for 24 hours the pigma pen ink still
> spreads
> when applied and doesn't seem to dry well.  We haven't dared to apply
> a top
> coat at this point.  Is this a problem with the ink, the B-72, or the
> objects we're cataloging?  We're applying numbers to flatware and are
> having
> trouble with some pieces more than others. Does B-72 and pigma ink
> react
> differently to different types of metals?
>
> - Jenna

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