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Acidity of wood
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 12:21 am
by 777
I've read everywhere that wood and most paper is acidic and can gradually harm objects in collections. Even a shell collecting friend tells me not to use wooden cabinets for shells. I have a question, are pinned insects affected by being stored in wooden insect drawers for years, or no? I have been storing my seashells in airtight plastic boxes only, but I never gave much thought about my cornell drawers and insects until now.
Re: Acidity of wood
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 1:46 am
by eurytides
Never heard of this being a problem. The specimens are pinned and don’t touch the wood.
Re: Acidity of wood
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 3:45 pm
by KKarns
Major collections all over the world have wood drawers with collections dating back centuries. Bugs from these drawers look as good as the day they were caught in most cases. Light and dermestids are the enemy! lol.
Re: Acidity of wood
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 4:10 pm
by adamcotton
777 wrote: Fri Apr 28, 2023 12:21 am
Even a shell collecting friend tells me not to use wooden cabinets for shells.
That's not so surprising, as shells are made of Calcium, whereas insects are basically chitin.
Adam.