I get sooo behind with my digests....
>While not suggesting for a moment that she would remember what adhesives fan >makers used before synthetic adhesives, many years ago Pat Read recommended >gum arabic to me. It was in powder/granular form and had to be dissolved in >water before use. Perhaps Jane could tell us more. I can't help much - Mum is on holiday and incommunicado, so I can't ask her. My understanding is that gum arabic is a traditional paste used for paper and fabrics. A search on the internet tells me that it is an exudate of acacia trees. It was a water soluble gum used in adhesives, ink and marbling paints. As an adhesive it was valued for its ready solubility in water, readiness for use, cleanliness and ease of application. However, it is too moisture sensitive for archival work. These days it seems to be used more in the food processing industry. It is an emulsifier used to stabilise flavours and essential oils, and is used in confectionary, such as wine gums, pastilles and marshmallows. - so, your useless information for today. What used to be used as glue, is now eaten as food. Cheers Jane In an excessively hot and humid Hampshire where I've had headaches for several days.... PS Nearly forgot the obligatory lace content: > "Several weeks" is a longish project???? Interesting viewpoint Indeed. I'd say several weeks was an incredibly short project. Over the last six years I've averaged one piece of lace per year. I only have one piece of work on the go and they've all been pretty small. Its a question of how much time available and currently there isn't any. Ms Jane Read Southampton Oceanography Centre, Empress Dock, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, U.K. email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel: 02380-596432 - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
