Argon filled case

Conservation Issues
Post Reply
JFeig
Posts: 1285
Joined: Thu 23 Sep, 2004 8:31 pm
Location: Detroit, Michigan USA
Organisation: minoxy, LLC
Interests: non-fiction knowledge
Contact:

Argon filled case

Post by JFeig »

Hi all;

I have a possible business venture in the works that will be manufacturing of hermetically sealed acrylic cases that can be inserted into a frame. The face and back of these cases will be made up of UV filtering (OP2) acrylic. Air is removed via a medical syringe or vacuum pump and Argon is then inserted with a hand held applicator. The Argon is contained in a capsule similar to CO2 capsules used to charge soda bottles in a family bar.

I am looking for feedback as to what you fellow framers think about this project for your use. The basic idea is 4 standard sizes (yet to be determined and a starting point) plus custom sizes. As for pricing..... A cost of about $100US to framers for a letter size case.

Here is a link to the inventors web page. http://www.uvarchive.com/ View via I.E. vs Firefox. There is a glitch in Firefox on this site


Thanks all,
Jerome Feig CPF®
http://www.minoxy.com
User avatar
iantheframer
Posts: 236
Joined: Mon 21 Jan, 2008 2:59 pm
Location: central portugal
Organisation: is not my greatest talent!
Interests: photography

Re: Argon filled case

Post by iantheframer »

I know these types of cases have been trailed in museums and the main problem has been that the seals have not proven to be 100% perfect. This means constant monitoring of the oxygen and Argon content. “Topping up” is not too much of a problem in a museum where constant monitoring is carried out. This would be very problematic if we were supplying these directly to customers,
Ian
JFeig
Posts: 1285
Joined: Thu 23 Sep, 2004 8:31 pm
Location: Detroit, Michigan USA
Organisation: minoxy, LLC
Interests: non-fiction knowledge
Contact:

Re: Argon filled case

Post by JFeig »

Evidently the seal has been resolved..... the initial suggestion and consulting is from a Getty Museum person.
Jerome Feig CPF®
http://www.minoxy.com
framejunkie
Posts: 347
Joined: Tue 13 May, 2008 11:40 am
Location: Bethnal Green, London
Organisation: framejunkie
Interests: 6.9%APR; 21.3%APR
Location: Bethnal Green, London
Contact:

Re: Argon filled case

Post by framejunkie »

Jerome.

In theory this seems great to be able to offer this Major Museum/National Collection grade facility, but -

- I'm not sure I'd manage to sell this to many of my customers - even the wealthy collectors

- I'm guessing that the equipment outlay to assemble these in my own workshop would prohibit me from investing - what would be the initial outlay? Given that I'd not be selling many, how do i recover the set-up costs?

- The after-sales might bankrupt me - these things surely need checking/maintaining periodically.

I'd welcome some more info, though
JFeig
Posts: 1285
Joined: Thu 23 Sep, 2004 8:31 pm
Location: Detroit, Michigan USA
Organisation: minoxy, LLC
Interests: non-fiction knowledge
Contact:

Re: Argon filled case

Post by JFeig »

There is no special equipment to invest in....

The kit includes the container for the art, a vacuum device, and an Argon charge applicator. An oxygen indicator strip is also part of the package.

Simply install the art, place the gasket in place, close the unit, remove the air, place the Argon inside
Jerome Feig CPF®
http://www.minoxy.com
Framer Dave
Posts: 128
Joined: Fri 30 Mar, 2007 9:03 pm
Location: Houston TX

Re: Argon filled case

Post by Framer Dave »

Isn't acrylic porous to gases and water vapour? I know that's why glass is used instead of acrylic at the National Gallery when the frame package is highly sealed. If water molecules are small enough to pass through I'd think argon would be as well.
Post Reply