Comments on: When “acid free” isn’t actually acid free: Can you trust archival supplies to be safe? http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/ Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:29:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Sally J. http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/comment-page-1/#comment-358 Sally J. Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:11:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/#comment-358 Antinous, I'm not sure the pH pen works on film...I think it's designed only to work on paper. All kinds of plastic (including film) go through unpredictable changes over time. It's dicey.<br/><br/>FWIW, people in art supply stores are not necessarily up to date on preservation guidelines... regardless of the size of the city!<br/><br/>Glad you found me via my 15 nanoseconds of fame on BoingBoing. That <a HREF="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/20/rosie-the-riveter-no.html" REL="nofollow">Vietnamese Propaganda project</a> was one of my favorite jobs in grad school. Antinous, I’m not sure the pH pen works on film…I think it’s designed only to work on paper. All kinds of plastic (including film) go through unpredictable changes over time. It’s dicey.

FWIW, people in art supply stores are not necessarily up to date on preservation guidelines… regardless of the size of the city!

Glad you found me via my 15 nanoseconds of fame on BoingBoing. That Vietnamese Propaganda project was one of my favorite jobs in grad school.

]]> By: Antinous http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/comment-page-1/#comment-355 Antinous Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:05:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/#comment-355 I've recently discovered that some drawings that I did about 20 years ago on archival, acid-free film are a disaster. My Galapagos Marine Iguana is now less orange than the film on which he's drawn. Bummer. If you don't live in a real city, the people at the art supply stores are non-experts, so I'm glad to know that there's a way to test.<br/><br/>I followed your comment about Rosie the Vietnamese Riveter over here from BoingBoing. This is a great blog. I’ve recently discovered that some drawings that I did about 20 years ago on archival, acid-free film are a disaster. My Galapagos Marine Iguana is now less orange than the film on which he’s drawn. Bummer. If you don’t live in a real city, the people at the art supply stores are non-experts, so I’m glad to know that there’s a way to test.

I followed your comment about Rosie the Vietnamese Riveter over here from BoingBoing. This is a great blog.

]]> By: Sally J. http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Sally J. Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:32:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/#comment-347 @Anon -- It's possible the roll of paper was acid free when originally purchased...but if it wasn't also lignin free it will revert to acidic. But take heart! Maybe it's your PH pen that's mistaken. I'd check it with a new pen before deciding to toss it.<br/><br/>@Kevin -- So glad you found the blog. <i>Don't be a stranger!</i> @Anon — It’s possible the roll of paper was acid free when originally purchased…but if it wasn’t also lignin free it will revert to acidic. But take heart! Maybe it’s your PH pen that’s mistaken. I’d check it with a new pen before deciding to toss it.

@Kevin — So glad you found the blog. Don’t be a stranger!

]]> By: kevin driedger http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/comment-page-1/#comment-346 kevin driedger Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:39:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/#comment-346 I happened across your blog today and what a fine blog it is. My professional interests lean a little more in the library direction, but there is a lot of overlap. And my hat goes off to anyone who understands old photographic techniques. I look forward to browsing your earlier blog entries. I happened across your blog today and what a fine blog it is. My professional interests lean a little more in the library direction, but there is a lot of overlap. And my hat goes off to anyone who understands old photographic techniques. I look forward to browsing your earlier blog entries.

]]> By: Anonymous http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Anonymous Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:15:00 +0000 http://practicalarchivist.com/when-acid-free-isnt-actually-acid-free-can-you-trust-archival-supplies-to-be-safe/#comment-344 I love my pH pen - but the frustrating thing is that it has been identifying items previously thought to be acid-free as, well, not acid-free. Specifically, it is identifying a huge roll of supposedly acid-free thick paper (for enclosing odd-sized documents) as acidic - the previous archivist bought this roll, and paid a pretty penny for it, but I am loathe to use it.<br/><br/>I've also noticed places like Staples identifying plastic covers as "acid-free" - I'm suspicious. I love my pH pen – but the frustrating thing is that it has been identifying items previously thought to be acid-free as, well, not acid-free. Specifically, it is identifying a huge roll of supposedly acid-free thick paper (for enclosing odd-sized documents) as acidic – the previous archivist bought this roll, and paid a pretty penny for it, but I am loathe to use it.

I’ve also noticed places like Staples identifying plastic covers as “acid-free” – I’m suspicious.

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