As for glue, you might consider white glue such as Elmer's.  This glue is
water soluble but will hold very nicely.
I suggest doing a practice gluing first just to make sure the glue will
dissolve without hurting the shell.
 
John L. Jacobs
Seffner, FL
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-----Original Message-----
From: Frederick W. Schueler <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, March 12, 1999 9:32 PM
Subject: Mounting Unionid shells for exhibition
 
 
Conch-lists,
 
We're going to prepare travelling exhibits (on vertical masonite boards),
to teach People about our local Unionid fauna, and I wonder what methods
have been successful for mounting shells in situations where they may not
be treated gently.
 
I asked the Unionid list for advice about this, and got suggestions that
implied that the shells were expendable (drill holes and attach with
screws, permanent glues, etc), but these are museum specimens, and
shouldn't be degraded by the mounting. I'm inclining towards using
silicone caulking compound to attach the shells, on the hypothesis that
when the exhibit is to be disassembled the silicone mounting could sliced
with a knife, and then peeled off the shell. I'm worried by the
possibility that the periostracum might come off with the silicone, and
that the odor of the stuff suggests that acetic acid, which might erode
the shell, is used as a solvent. Does anyone have experience using this,
or any other robust method of safely mounting shells for display?
 
thanks for any help,
 
fred schueler.
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         Eastern    Ontario    Biodiversity    Museum
                Grenville Co, Ontario, Canada
(RR#2 Oxford Station, K0G 1T0) (613)258-3107   [log in to unmask]
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