Removing wax linings

Karen Lenk <klenk [at] tpl__toronto__on__ca> writes

>Has anyone had experience removing old linings applied with wax?

Removal of wax can be done mechanically to some extent to minimize
the use of solvents and then you have to wipe out residuals of wax
with solvents, low temperature air stream can be utilize to soften
the thick wax ( but never heat the wax to its melting point in that
case large quantity of wax will travel in to the paper and paper
will be darken). Your prime objective should be to reduced the wax
to minimum by mechanical methods. And then try some wax removing
solvents (check xylene) from verso, your immediate reaction may be
of darkening of paper due to travel of wax in to paper by solvent
action but it can be reduced by repeated use of solvent.

One more observation might help you in reaching towards solution
that how they lined paper with wax? If they applied  melted wax on
the back of the paper then presence of wax in to the paper (darken
of paper) is from the time of its lining. And if they applied melted
wax on lining material and leave it for some time till the wax
become tacky and then they lined the paper. In that case the
presence of wax on the verso must be superficial in nature so you
can reduced it to a great extent by  mechanical methods.

Madhavi Singh
Dharohar, Art Conservation Centre,
30, Ravindra Garden,
Aliganj, Lucknow-24,
India.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:45
                 Distributed: Friday, February 25, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-45-006
                                  ***