Air pencil system

Ted Stanley's article on "A Tool for Pressure Sensitive Tape
Removal: The AirPencil" appeared in Volume 17 of the Book and Paper
Group Annual.  The tool he used for tape removal was the
Zephyrtronics AirPencil ZT-2.  Because conservators have been so
interested in the tool, Zephyrtronics is making a modified version
for us with a lower temperature range.  The new model number is
ZT-2-ART.

The original tool had a temperature range of 600-900 degrees
Fahrenheit. Zephyrtronics has already calibrated this down for
another customer.  The model for conservators will probably have the
bottom of the temperature range at 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  A lot of
heat is lost to the air, the different AirPencil tips will change
the movement of the heat, the air flow can be adjusted on the tool,
and the AirPencil tip can be held at varying distances from the
tape-so there are a lot of options when using the tool.

The heat source is a ceramic heating element from Japan, and this
component should never fail.  The temperature range is calibrated
when the tool is made, and it should not drift.  There is a somewhat
linear movement of the temperature as the dial is turned;
conservators can determine what settings produce what temperature.

The tool handle is 24 volts, which is the safest possible.  The tool
is not voltage dependent (in case your electricity has
spikes/valleys).

There are five tips for the tool, and they are all stainless steel.
The "popular oval" is supplied with the AirPencil.  The "fine/jet"
is very small, so there is a faster air velocity with this tip.
Diagrams and sizes for all the tips are at
<URL:http://zeph.com/pencil.html>.

In general the tool has a mild air flow; the document or fragments
will not be blowing around.

The pyramid shape of the tool makes it equally usable by left- and
right-handed people.

There is a one year warranty on the tool.

Some technical information on the original model is at
<URL:http://zeph.com/pap.html>.

In January 2000, David Jacks (President of Zephyrtronics) offered to
sell the AirPencil at the price listed in Ted Stanley's article,
even though there has been a price increase since then.  So the tool
would be $749.45, with an additional $125 for the re-calibration.
The additional tips are: fan ($24.99), round ($15.99), angle
($19.99), and fine/jet ($15.99).

Cathy Atwood
Missouri Local Records Program


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:41
                Distributed: Thursday, January 27, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-41-005
                                  ***