The large vacuum hot–table for wax relining of paintings in the Conservation Department of the Tate Gallery
Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Slabczynski, Stefan
Date published
1960
Abstract
The tabletop is of aluminium, area 3.2 à— 2 metres, thickness 8 mm. The heating chamber beneath, containing the electrical heating elements, is 15 cm deep. Air is blown through this chamber for cooling. Temperature is controlled thermostatically to ±3°C on the surface. Heating to around 58°C takes 35 min., cooling to room temperature 48 min., the important fall occupying the first 10 min. The three vacuum ports in the tabletop are placed in a way to permit use of half the table, the whole table, or relining of a picture up to twice the table area. Standard relining takes place in three stages: (a) impregnation of original canvas, (b) impregnation of relining canvas, (c) adhesion of the two canvases under controlled atmospheric pressure.
Journal title
Studies in Conservation
Volume
5
Issue
1
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
ISSN
0039-3630
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