Vacuum cleaners for mold

Vacuum pumps have been used by many book conservators here to clean
books and artifacts. Connect PVC or teflon (PVC is more flexible and
less likely to cause surface damage at end) tubing to your vacuum pump
to act as the apparatus for removing the dust or mould from the item.

A bleed valve should be used to regulate the strength of the vacuum. The
tubing goes to the pump via a pair of dreschel wash bottles (one is a
fail safe) The important thing however is to ensure the mould is not
drawn into the pump itself where it might continue to grow so the tubing
is connected via a pair (one acts as a fail-safe) of dreschel
wash-bottles to the pump. To trap the mould or grime in the bottles the
insides should be slightly moist/wet. This method is employed by many,
it makes use of equipment the conservator already has, the equipment
forms part of the TC scintered glass vacuum kit Conservation Resources
International offer. For improved suction in the system silicone grease
should be coated round all glass and tube joints.

Mark Vine
Conservation Resources (UK) Ltd
Units 1, 2 & 4 Pony Road
Horspath Industrial Estate
Cowley Oxfordshire OX4 2RD
England
+44 1865 747755
+44 1865 747035

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:62
                 Distributed: Tuesday, February 7, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-62-004
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