Hi Amanda - The problem might be with your top coat, not the pen. Sometimes if there's too much solvent in the solution the top coat will erase the ink rather than covering it. I had this problem with top coat I bought from University Products a few years ago. The stuff I bought from the Northern States Conservation Center works well though. I've been told you can mix your own base and top coats too (although I haven't tried it myself). Lindsey Richardson Curator of Collections Boston Children's Museum 300 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210 Tel. 617 426 6500 x366 Fax 617 426 2589 www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Amanda Dyer Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 4:36 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [MUSEUM-L] numbering in pencil? Hello All: I'm having trouble finding an archival black pen that won't smear when a top coat of clear B-72 is applied when numbering an artifact. Can anyone give any reasons why I shouldn't use a pencil to apply the number between the barrier layers? Thanks, Amanda Amanda Thompson Dyer Curator Bell County Museum 201 N. Main Street P.O. Box 1381 Belton, TX 76513 254.933.5244 (p) 254.933.5756 (f) www.bellcountymuseum.org ========================================================= 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). ========================================================= 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).