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Abstract
The question of how to secure an artifact for display has long been a focus of art conservators in all specialties. Art conservators have been using magnets in specific ways for many years, mostly for photo setup or metal identification. Independent of method, the goal has always been to keep the treatment reversible. A new type of reversible fastening is the neodymium rare-earth magnet, far stronger than earlier permanent magnets. Available since 1990, these magnets have great potential as a new tool for conservators. As these new magnets become part of the toolkit, a fuller understanding of how they work is needed. Specifically, a categorization of magnetic systems will aid conservators in determining which attributes a magnet should have for a given application. This paper describes the components of a magnetic system, amplifying information that was presented at the 2013 41st Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Conservation, where different properties of commonly available magnets and methods of implementation were explored.
Acknowledgments
A special thanks is extended to SmallCorp Incorporated who generously made all of the jigs and components for the session. The hands-on session would never have gotten off the ground without the efforts of Van Wood of SmallCorp, who created the jigs from drawings. Other essential efforts came from Bob Hunnes who created the initial drawing of the jigs, without which there would be no activity; Virginia Whelan, the organizer of the TSG meeting that year; and Joy Gardner who made a fateful phone call late last summer. This session was made possible because of them. My very deep gratitude goes to everyone there for being so helpful and supportive in making this session a reality. Thank you also to Kathleen Kiefer, who created all of the pre-weighted sand bags, and Robin Hanson who made and designed the beautiful bags outfitted with unique buttons to hold the jigs and materials.
I also want to thank Ruth Seyler, Eric Pourchot, Steven Charles, and everyone else at the AIC office, who graciously helped at the annual meeting, ensuring that all of the components were where they needed to be. Finally, extensive thanks go to those who helped with the preparations before the session and with this paper, including Nicolette Cook, David Fitzjarrald, Lisa Goldberg, Denise Migdail, Barbara Owens, Larry Schaaf, and Donald Spicer.
Suppliers
Disk neodymium with chrome-plating, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 in., Grade 42; flexible magnets: ferrite-bonded strips with synthetic rubber, style 0.03, 0.06, and 0.125; cups for magnets: steel, 1/2 and 1 in.; steel washer 1-1/8 in.
McMaster-Carr
PO Box 5370
Princeton, NJ 08543-5370
609-689-3000
609-259-3575
Washers: 1 in. fender
Local hardware
Steel: .001 in., .01 in., and .025 in. (24 gauge)
Iron powder
Magically Magnetic
PO Box 219
Saxonburg, PA 16056
724-352-3747
www.lyt.com, [email protected],
Buffalo Felt, 1/16 in. and 4.5 oz.,
Buffalo Felt Products Corporation
14 Ransier Drive
Buffalo, NY 14224
716-674-7990, ext. 207
Mylar: 2 mil uncoated polyester film (TFM001010),
Talas
330 Morgan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
212-219-0770
212-219-0735
Novasuede: nylon fiber
Majilite
1530 Broadway Road
Dracut, MA 01826
978-441 6800
978-441 0835
Paper: 100% cotton rag, unbuffered, Photo-Tex tissue, pH 6.8–7.2 (7-1185)
Archivart
40 Eisenhower Drive
Paramus, NJ 07652
888-846-6847
870-268-0581
100% cotton, 1-1/2 in. wide (Tape 4); unbleached, desized, cotton print cloth, 108 g/m2 (400 U)
Testfabrics
415 Delaware Ave
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Additional information
Notes on contributors
Gwen Spicer
Gwen Spicer is a textile, upholstery, and objects conservator in private practice. She earned her MA in Art Conservation from Buffalo State College, and has since taught and lectured around the world. In her private practice, she assists many individuals and organizations of all sizes with storage, collection care, and exhibitions, and has become known for her innovative conservation treatments. She is a Fellow of AIC. Address: Spicer Art Conservation, LLC, 305 Clipp Rd., Delmar, NY 12054.