Objects Lab


Paintings Lab	Paper Lab	Science Lab	Examination	Library


An enormous variety of three-dimensional objects are treated in our lab and an equally wide variety of tools and materials are available for this treatment work. There are three stereo microscopes with video and photomacrographic accessories including a floor standing Wild that can be positioned in any orientation. Equipment includes a dental vacuum, a jewelers lathe, a polishing lathe and associated materials, flexible shaft machines and accessories, an air-abrasive unit with glove box, and a range of tools and materials for box and mount making. An extensive range of solvents, dry chemicals, lab supplies, inpainting materials, and adhesives and polymers used in conservation treatments are found here as well. Other features are a jewelers bench/work-station, plating and electrotyping equipment, extensive materials and supplies for molding and casting, a large timber press-bed which also supports a crane and lifting tackle, and various apparatus designed and built in the technology shop including devices for repairing flat glass, and for the completion by "spinning" of incomplete archaeological ceramics. The tools, materials and equipment of the technology shop make it possible to replicate in any material missing parts of virtually any object.

	In the technology shop, the student has access to a vast and growing array of tools and materials for exploration of historic crafts; for making conservation tools, fixtures and mounts; and for fabricating replacement and restoration elements.Standing woodworking machinery includes a drill press, variable speed lathe, table saw, band saw, jig saw, grinder, belt-sander and thickness-planer. Hand power tools include routers, die grinder, drills, sanders, rotary saw, planer, and engraving machine. An extensive collection of historic tools supplements a wide variety of modern and reproduction tools that are used in the following craft categories:
• Woodworking: hand bench planes, molding planes and special purpose planes, a large selection of carving tools - both western and Native American styles, miter trimmer, adzes of western and non-western styles, a comprehensive selection of clamps, chisels and saws of both Western and Japanese style and manufacture. • Picture frame making: a reproduction 17th-century style machine for making ripple moldings, a large collection of historic and reproduction composition molds, a large selection of wooden molding planes, and traditional gilding tools. • Jewelry and silversmithing: all necessary hand tools, a collection of stakes, anvils and hammers, stumps and blocks, pitch bowls, wire drawing plates, jewelers lathe, floor-standing rolling mill, engraving machine, electric soldering machine. • Metal casting: a large collection of sand-casting tools, flasks and practice patterns, a burn-out kiln for lost-wax casting, a small electric melting apparatus and a medium size gas melting furnace, crucibles, tongs, etc. • Stained glass making: a selection of glass and other materials, soldering apparatus and traditional as well as modern hand tools. • Lapidary: a large diamond slabbing saw, a lapidary unit including trim saw, grit wheels and sanding disks, all relevant tools and supplies. • Soft stone carving: a comprehensive selection of stone-cutting and carving chisels, hammers and axes, drills, rasps and abrasives, stone practice blocks. • Iron and sheet-metal working: gas-fired forge, anvils, hammers, swages/swage block, tongs, stakes, bending and beading tools, traditional stump and attached leg vise, spinning tools and metalworking attachments for large lathe, metal shear, torches (propane, acetylene, MAP gas). • Ceramic work: a large electric kiln with environment controls, relevant hand tools, cones, glazes A large selection of materials for experimentation and craft practice are maintained and made available to students, including: ferrous and non-ferrous metals, domestic and imported timber and veneers, stained glass, glass enamels, leather, horn, ivory, and bone.