> Per the artist's instructions, we > have just used a high grade monofilament to hang a delicate, relatively > lightweight work of contemporary sculpture. I am aware that monofilament > degrades in UV light and would like to set up a reasonable schedule for > periodically replacing it. Were it to break, the sculpture would very > likely be destroyed. Would once a year be too often? Not often enough? > > Any recommendations or guidance would be welcome. I haven't seen it used in a museum context, but in motion picture special effects, we now more often use fine tungsten wire for the "invisible" suspension of objects. It is available in diameters as small as .0009", which is virtually invisible and is specified to support about 1/3 lb. Thicker wire, say with a diameter of .005" it is much, much less noticable than even 2 lb. monofilament, and has a load of about 8 lbs. It does not degrade in sunlight, but it can be difficult to handle since it is almost invisible and small kinks or poorly tied knots may cause fatal fatique. We usually coat knots with cyanoacrlyate adhesive, which may not be appropriate in a museum setting. It is possible to suspend large objects with no visible support, especially if carefully lit. I would be interested to hear if anyone has used this material in a exhibit or display. Special Effects Unlimited 1005 Lillian Way Hollywood, CA 90004 323.466.3361 Sells flat grey coated 10 ft rolls. under the name "suspendo" for I think about 2 dollars per foot California Fine Wire 304 S. 4th St. Grover City CA 93433 805.489.5144 Sells 100 ft length minimums in either black or grey coated for about 65 cents per foot. ========================================================= 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).