Connecting to Collections Care

Hello from NC!

Our organization is looking into buying a mylar sealer and I don't have a personal experience and would really appreciate to have your input. We are planning on rehousing hundreds of big architectural drawings so we'll need to seal long sections of mylar to make "L" shape sleeves. Does anyone has experience and so an advice when choosing a sealer? Cons and pros of different sealers?

Thank you all, I really appreciate your help!

These are the ones we have been considering:

1000 Series: MSC 2600 and 4000 Polyester Sealer

MuseuM Services Corporation		remove preview
1000 Series: MSC 2600 and 4000 Polyester Sealer The MSC 2600 and 4000 Polyester Sealer is used by archivists, bookbinders, conservators and photographers to protect valuable documents and other objects. Call to order today! View this on MuseuM Services Corporation >

VEVOR Continuous Bag Band Sealing Machine FR770A Horizontal Bag Sealer with Digital Temperature Control Band Sealer Machine for 0.02-0.08 mm Plastic Bags Continuous Band Sealer with Printing Function | VEVOR US

Vevor		remove preview
VEVOR Continuous Bag Band Sealing Machine FR770A Horizontal Bag Sealer with Digital Temperature Control Band Sealer Machine for 0.02-0.08 mm Plastic Bags Continuous Band Sealer with Printing Function | VEVOR US Discover VEVOR Continuous Bag Band Sealing Machine FR770A Horizontal Bag Sealer with Digital Temperature Control Band Sealer Machine for 0.02-0.08 mm Plastic Bags Continuous Band Sealer with Printing Function, Excellent Sealing and Steel Wheel Printing at lowest price, 2days delivery, 30days returns. View this on Vevor >

Foot-Operated Extra-Long Impulse Sealer - 30

Uline		remove preview
Foot-Operated Extra-Long Impulse Sealer - 30 Ideal for high-volume poly bag sealing. Variable timer control lets you seal all types of plastic films up to 30" wide and 8 mil thickness. Extra-long foot sealer for sealing bags up to 30" wide. For use with polyethylene and metallic bags. Foot pedal operation. Standing height is 34". 110 volts. View this on Uline >

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Nidia Navarro-Potel
Collections Care Conservator
Biltmore Estate
Asheville NC
(848) 252-9518
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Hello Nidia!

As the acting C2C Care community monitor, I'd like to thank you for posting this question to the community. Although the C2C Care program does not endorse any particular manufacturer or product, I invite members to discuss their equipment experiences and recommendations. I have not used any of these products, but after a quick review of their specifications, they all meet temperature requirements for sealing Mylar, will accommodate up to 8mil (0.008) thickness, and are open throat allowing for a continuous/overlapping seal. The MSC seems the most low-profile, convenient option as it can be placed on a tabletop which would allow for easier handling and maneuvering of large polyester sheets.

Hopefully our community members will be able to share their own experiences with similar devices and projects.

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

I don't have specific recommendations but I have used something similar in the past. It was an ultrasonic welder versus the heat based ones linked above and the welder head moved while the Mylar was stationary.

The heat based sealers are completely fine, and quite a bit more cost effective than the ultrasonic ones. The only drawback is you wouldn't want to encapsulate something with it due to the heat being so close to the artefact. Since you are making L sleeves that isn't an issue as the artefacts will be added after.

One of your linked options is a continuous feeder. It gives you the option of creating very long L sleeves in a single pass, but my experience with with the moving welder head was that if the Mylar wasn't completely 100% flat it could bunch up and if the sheets started to slip a tiny bit at the start by the end the edges were way off. I personally would have preferred a smaller stationary weld and then overlapped the welds. But that's my personal option and may not have the same issue with a heat based welder.

Keep us posted on what you end up with and how it works!

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William Shepherd
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818

Archives: https://memorysask.ca/swift-current-museum
Library: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SwiftCurrentMuseum
Website: http://www.swiftcurrent.ca/museum
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Thank you all for your input! I really appreciate it.

I'll let you know what we ended up getting.

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Nidia Navarro-Potel
Collections Care Conservator
Biltmore Estate
Asheville NC
(848) 252-9518
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2024 11:17
From: William Shepherd
Subject: Mylar sealer

Hello Nidia,

I don't have specific recommendations but I have used something similar in the past. It was an ultrasonic welder versus the heat based ones linked above and the welder head moved while the Mylar was stationary.

The heat based sealers are completely fine, and quite a bit more cost effective than the ultrasonic ones. The only drawback is you wouldn't want to encapsulate something with it due to the heat being so close to the artefact. Since you are making L sleeves that isn't an issue as the artefacts will be added after.

One of your linked options is a continuous feeder. It gives you the option of creating very long L sleeves in a single pass, but my experience with with the moving welder head was that if the Mylar wasn't completely 100% flat it could bunch up and if the sheets started to slip a tiny bit at the start by the end the edges were way off. I personally would have preferred a smaller stationary weld and then overlapped the welds. But that's my personal option and may not have the same issue with a heat based welder.

Keep us posted on what you end up with and how it works!

------------------------------
William Shepherd
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818

Archives: https://memorysask.ca/swift-current-museum
Library: https://www.librarything.com/profile/SwiftCurrentMuseum
Website: http://www.swiftcurrent.ca/museum
------------------------------