Connecting to Collections Care

 View Only
Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

best choice tabletop for collections work table

  • 1.  best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 07-19-2023 19:27

    Hello All!

    We have the go ahead to build a new work table using powder-coated steel cabinets under a tabletop.  The BIG question is what is the BEST tabletop material for a collections care work table?  What do you have?  What would you like to have?  Is HDPE overkill?  What surfaces/materials should we avoid?

    Thanks!

    Jodi



    ------------------------------
    Jodi Lundgren
    Collections Manager
    Crazy Horse SD
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 07-20-2023 16:09

    Hi Jodi,

    As the acting C2C Care community monitor, I'd like to thank you for posting these questions to the community and I'm hoping you'll get lots of reader responses. Although the C2C Care program does not endorse any particular manufacturer or product, members are welcome to discuss their equipment experiences and recommendations. 

    I'm providing you with some resources on choosing storage and display materials, which seems a little off topic, but they may help determine which surfaces and materials to avoid, i.e., materials that emit VOC's as these are damaging to people and collections.

    NEDCC Storage Furniture: A Brief Review of Current Options

    https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/4.-storage-and-handling/4.2-storage-furniture-a-brief-review-of-current-options

    Introduction to storage and display materials - https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/advice-article/introduction-to-storage-and-display-materials/

    Materials and their interaction with museum objects - http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/conservation-journal/issue-44/materials-and-their-interaction-with-museum-objects/

    Designing a Conservation Lab - https://guides.library.yale.edu/c.php?g=582995&p=4484563

    Yale library has included several online resources and included a fact sheet which may be helpful.

    Planning and Constructing Book & Paper Laboratories: A Guidebook – provides book overview plus links to two free chapters - https://jeffpeachey.com/2012/09/10/planning-and-constructing-book-and-paper-conservation-laboratories-a-guidebook/

    One of the chapters is on Custom-built furniture & equipment.



    ------------------------------
    Sharon Fickeissen
    Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
    Senior Library Conservation Technician
    Hagley Museum & Library
    Wilmington DE
    sfickeissen@hagley.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 07-20-2023 16:10

    Hi Jodi,

    At LACMA we top all of our collections tables with a full size cutting mat w/ an alignment grid underneath.  You can order various sizes from Drafting Steals and they can cut them down to your tabletop size.  Depending on usage, you usually don't need to replace the cutting mat for many years.  Then if we're hosting a viewing and need to make the surface softer or just look nicer, we'll cover with other materials as needed.

    Enjoy your new table!

    Kristin



    ------------------------------
    Kristin Strid
    Head of Collections Management
    Los Angeles County Museum of Art
    Los Angeles CA
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-02-2023 11:28

    Hello--responding a bit late to this. We recently updated our work tables with hydraulic hand cranks and have been very happy with the results. We were able to reuse our butcher block surfaces and keep them on casters for easy movement and configuration. 

    Image shows two conservation lab work tables at different heights.


    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Heydt
    Collections Manager
    National Postal Museum
    Washington DC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-05-2023 09:12

    Elizabeth,

    Installing a hydraulic hand crank on work tables is a great idea! 

    Can you provide details about how this was done? I'm wondering if you purchased new table bases with hydraulic hand cranks or were able to modify your existing tables somehow. 

    Thanks!

    Rhonda 



    ------------------------------
    Rhonda Brewer
    Museum Curator
    Pecos National Historical Park
    Pecos, New Mexico
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-08-2023 09:50

    Rhonda,

    Yes, you are exactly correct. We purchased new table bases with the hand cranks. Our conservator worked closely with the vendor to confirm dimensions and that we could attach our existing table tops. When the bases arrived our internal staff were able to easily attach our existing tops. We preferred the hand crank option, over a powered one, because we wanted the maximum flexibility in being able to move them about our space. 


    Beth



    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Heydt
    Collections Manager
    National Postal Museum
    Washington DC
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-09-2023 14:14

    Hey all,

    I just wanted to update that we are checking into a custom table created by Formaspace.  The prices seems really reasonable--in the range of what it would have cost us to buy cabinets and put a table-top over them ourselves.  They offer a steep educational discount and offer free crates if you commit to the quote within 30 days.

    They have a hydraulic lift option for an additional charge of around $1500 for the 5 x 10' table we are looking at (to allow us to easily set the table anywhere between 30 - 42" high).  So if you are building a table and want a hydraulic lift on it and not retrofitting something you already have it looks like a good option.  Thanks for the recommendation William Donnelly!

    Thanks!

    Jodi



    ------------------------------
    Jodi Lundgren
    Museum Curator
    Crazy Horse Memorial
    Crazy Horse SD
    Collections ManagerCollections Manager
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-07-2023 07:13

    Hi Jodi.  Sorry for the delayed response.  Below are some options for processing tables that I've used on other museum and archives projects. I will email you directly some vendors' products and websites to review, although I cannot endorse any specific product.  Best, Michele

    There are utilitarian tables that serve many purposes, especially for the dustier task of processing collections.  The choice of tables depends on how you plan to use the space. A generic processing room has durable and moveable tables that can be adjusted for the project and height adjusted for chairs, stools or stand-up work.  

    In general, the desired processing tables are usually heavy duty stainless steel or powder-coated metal tables - they are inert, durable and can be easily wiped.  The other table option is similar to a lab table with an epoxy or phenolic work surface.  Formica or other phenolic laminate top tables are acceptable but are not as inert. Solid wood and composite wood furniture are not recommended as they offgas and are flammable.  

    If you go with a table with a non-metal top, you have to decide on color.  Some curators/archivist prefer a lighter color over a black or dark color top.

    I would go with a minimum table size of 48" x 30".  Multiple tables can be nested if a larger surface top is needed. I especially like a bottom shelf, although it does make it more awkward if you plan to use stools at these tables. 

    I suggest, if you can afford it, to add the locking casters for at least one table per room.  It adds flexibility and some height to the table, which can make it more ergonomic (for example a 4" swivel caster add 3⅝" to table height). 

    I also suggest tables with an adjustable height function, but these are always more expensive.  Power adjustable tables with casters are ideal, but harder to find at a reasonable price.  Most of my clients are happy with the manual or pneumatic lift adjustable metal tables as they do not adjust the height that often. 
    I am happy to discuss tables and other speciality furniture used in museums and archives.  Best, Michele Pacifico 
    MICHELE F. PACIFICO
    Archival Facilities Consultant
    PO Box 1490, Jackson, WY 83001
    301-908-8720


    ------------------------------
    Michele Pacifico
    Archival Facilities Consultant
    Jackson WY
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-08-2023 12:56
    Hi Jodi,
    It seems like this topic has been covered pretty well already, especially by Michelle. I would just add one thing, taking a very literal interpretation to the topic line. 
    One option for the actual table surface is a kind of polyethylene used for cutting surfaces for sewing and binding operations. It's pros are that it is smooth, translucent white, inert surface that is self-healing can easily be cut to exactly match the size of any table whether purchased or custom fabricated. My own applications are typically for storage box fabrication and exhibtion/storage mountmaking. In my current work area I have two custom tables (both at the same height), both over 4' x 8' (useful when working with full sized sheet materials measuring 48" x 96" which can also be more cost effective in terms of raw materials costs). My tables are both 10 feet long with one being 5 feet wide with the other slightly less. Huge I know but for many projects either multiple people can work at a table or you can employ multiple projects in different stages of completion. Anyway, these tables have lots of features that may or may not be applicable to most peoples needs but the surface covering product itself is pretty versatile. I believe it comes in different thicknesses but the only one I have ever used is 3/16". Here is a link showing some options from one source that I have used that measure from 24" x 48" to 72" x 144" with prices that range from $5.63 to $5.00 a square foot respectively.
     

    Hope this is helpful to you or to someone else out there.
    Cheers, 
    Ashley
     



    --
    T. Ashley McGrew
    San Bruno, CA
    (646) 265 - 5526

     
     



    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-09-2023 15:03

    This looks great, Ashley.  Thanks1



    ------------------------------
    Jodi Lundgren
    Collections Manager
    Crazy Horse Memorial
    Crazy Horse SD
    Collections ManagerCollections Manager
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: best choice tabletop for collections work table

    Posted 08-09-2023 15:03

    Thank you for all these recommendations Michelle!



    ------------------------------
    Jodi Lundgren
    Collections Manager
    Crazy Horse Memorial
    Crazy Horse SD
    Collections ManagerCollections Manager
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content