Today I’d like to tell you about a few things you might not
have expect to find in our box of epigraphic and conservation supplies.
Apologies if this leads to some awkward conversations for parents out there,
but I can only do so much.
1) What is the best way to get stuck-on bird poo off of a
block without damaging the relief or stone? You can’t wet the block, that’s
really bad for it. There are no solvents that are safe. Knives are too big and
sharp (and seriously, do you trust me with a knife?). I bet the only one who
might guess what would be good to use would be my father-in-law. A dental pick!
Greg talked to our local dentist and got a nice collection of old dental picks
and they work really well. Granted, you have to sit there a get the poo off
little bits at a time, and flecks of poo will fly up and stick to your
chapstick, but otherwise, it’s not half bad. It still will leave a thin layer
of color, but that’s better than a wad of guano.
2) Blocks with paint on them or with really deep carving can
harbor dirt that can’t be easily removed with a brush. We need something that
blows the dirt away gently and doesn’t require us to go all big bad wolf,
huffing and puffing and blowing houses down. So we have a helper for this,
affectionately known as “le poof poof”. What it actually is, well, how
shall I put this gently. If you remember your French, it’s the word for shower.
If not, it’s an object found in the feminine care aisle of the pharmacy. And
that’s as much as I’m going to explain about that, ok? Let’s just say all the
ones we use have never been used for their intended purposes.
3) Speaking of paint on blocks, it’s not always visibly to
the naked eye. Pigment can stick in minute amounts and be impossible to spot
without help. We thought most blocks were devoid of color until Chicago House
taught us a little trick. Again, we never want to damage or stain the blocks,
so we have to be careful with what we use. But ethyl alcohol evaporates
quickly, leaves no color behind, doesn’t damage the blocks, and brings out the
color brilliantly! Just spray some on and POP! the color appears. I wish I
could show it in a photo, but it just doesn’t show up. Sorry. Just know it’s
really cool. Science: it works (I’m just not totally sure how).
Everything else you wouldn’t find all that surprising: tape
measure, calipers, pens, tape, bubble levels, etc. But I thought you’d find
these things interesting!
