conservation tools – Peachey Conservation

February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

New Tool: Deluxe Delrin Lifter

Most lifting tools are quite thin. Usually, this is great. But the thinness of the lifter results in a lack of control at the tip. In order to counteract this, I’ve come up with a very long wedge shape lifter that provides an an incredible amount of control for lifting, twisting, sliding, and prying. The straight cutting edge and rounded corners also aids precision manipulation.

This Deluxe Delrin lifter is designed for the lifting covering materials, backing removal, hinge removal, and tape removal. The cutting edge is flexible and so thin that the white delrin becomes translucent, a feature that could be useful in certain treatments. Delrin has a very low coefficient of friction, close to Teflon. The handle is hand carved out of a bar of Delrin .75 inch thick and an inch wide. The length gradually tapers, and the weight gives this precision tool a solid heft and a tremendous amount of control.

A must for paper, book, photographic, and other conservators and restorers. The length varies between 8 – 10 inches, since it is difficult for me to get a sharp, translucent, and flexible edge. They tend to get shorter and shorter as I work on them! If the overall length is critical to you, send me a note and I will let you know what is in stock.

Between 8 — 10 x 1 x .75 (thickness at the handle) inches. Tapered gradually along the length. The cutting edge is straight with rounded edges, to facilitate twisting and prying. A basic kit for maintaining the edge with instructions is included.

The Deluxe Delrin Lifter $95.00

December 1, 2020December 1, 2020

Online Delrin and Bamboo Toolmaking Workshops, Spring 2021.

Making tools is not only engaging and fun, but entirely practical since the result is set of tools you can use daily. Book conservators, photo conservators, paper conservators, bookbinders, and others will find this workshop valuable. Filing, scraping and polishing are meditative activities, no previous experience required. Working Delrin and bamboo is a great way to start toolmaking and we will make folders, lifting tools, microspatulas, hera, creasing tools, tongs and more. This workshop also is a great way to learn how to maintain and modify your existing tools. Fair warning: making your own tools is highly addictive!

As a class, we worked through the process of making bamboo tongs, which turned out to be a great introduction to mechanics by jumping into the deep end!

OVERVIEW

All aspects of making tools with delrin and bamboo will be discussed in detail: design considerations, thinking through working procedures, cutting, filing, rough shaping, final shaping, and polishing. The workshop consists of two 3- hour synchronous zoom sessions with PPTs, videos, discussion of handouts, demonstrations, Q&A chat sessions, and working together. Also included is two week access to the workshop website, which contains information, links, videos and PPTs. The workshop includes a kit with enough materials to make nine tools with a retail value over $300. A set of hand tools is also included: a cherry bench hook, scraper, burnisher, a file for plastics, and a variety of sanding and polishing supplies. All you need is a stable work surface, some time to work, and an interest in making tools.

Using a Delrin lifting tool upside down to apply pressure to a paper repair.

SCHOLARSHIP

A generous patron has offered a scholarship for the “Delrin and Bamboo Toolmaking Workshop”, session to be held April 10 + 17, 2021. The award is intended for a book conservator or bookbinder with less than five years working experience, who are in need of financial assistance. International applications are welcome. To apply, contact me with the subject heading “Tool Making Scholarship (your name)”. The message should consist of two paragraphs, the first explaining why this scholarship is necessary to you, the second detailing how it would benefit your work. Applications are due February 20, and the successful candidate notified on February 27. Submissions not adhering to this format will not be considered, and unsuccessful candidates will not be notified.

SCHEDULE

Two 3-hour sessions for each workshop. The workshop will be offered three times on Saturdays. February 13+20, March 13 + 20, and April 10 + 17. 12-3pm Pacific, 1-4pm Mountain, 2-5pm Central, 3-6pm Eastern, 8-11pm GMT, 9-12 CET, 10 – 1am EET, 5am – 8am (+ 1 day) JST, 6am – 9am ( +1 day) UTC

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

Email me for an invoice to pay by credit card. I will hold your place for 24 hours after I send the invoice.

COST

$375 US ($425 Canada, $445 other countries, includes shipping)

https://www.peacheytools.com/shop/online-workshop-making-delrin-and-bamboo-tools

September 4, 2019September 4, 2019

New Tool for Sale: Micro Knife

Micro knife slightly extended in its mechanical pencil holder.

This is the smallest knife available on the conservation market, with a .9mm width. The M2 steel blade retracts into a standard supplied mechanical pencil handle, so it can be retracted when not in use. The blade can be extended to about 20mm to reach into recessed areas. It has a double bevel, and can be used for cutting complex fills, working under magnification, miniature bookbinding, anywhere you need to make precise small cuts. Can be resharpened and stropped. Or the blade could be dulled to use as a micro spatula. The M2 steel blade is hardened to Rc 65. Just don’t mistake it for a pencil!

Order a .9mm Micro Knife with retractable mechanical pencil handle here for $35.00.