Sponsored by the
Museum of Natural
Science, Louisiana State University
Date:
Tue, 26 Nov 2002 12:12:09 -0800
Reply-To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators <AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Carla
I get my
bulk cotton from Van Dyke's. www.vandykes.com I am not sure if it fits your
requirements. I find it works well for larger specimens but I prefer good
medical grade stuff for small passerines.
Walt
Walter H.
Sakai
Professor of Biology
Santa Monica College Research Associate
1900 Pico Blvd Entomology Section
Santa Monica, CA 90405-1628 Natural History Museum
-----Original
Message-----
From: Carla Cicero [mailto:ccicero SOCRATES.BERKELEY.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 11:59 AM
To: AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [AVECOL-L] non-absorbent cotton?
We are in
desperate need of a supplier of non-sterile, non-absorbent cotton (long fiber)
for skinning (making bodies as well as wrapping). We used to get it from our
life sciences storeroom, but they no longer supply what we need. They do have
rolls of absorbent cotton, but the non-absorbent cotton is terrible for bird
skinning.
I'd
appreciate knowing what kind of cotton other people use for skinning, and where
they buy it.
Thanks! Carla
=======================================
Date:
Tue, 26 Nov 2002 15:17:36 -0500
Reply-To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators <AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators <AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [AVECOL-L] non-absorbent cotton?
We use
Schein cotton http://www.henryschein.com/ Go to dental supplies (it may also be
under other categories) you can search for "cotton roll" or the stock
number is 1000147HI, Schein number 42802. It is 1# rolls of absorbent, non
sterile cotton. It works well for bodies. The cost is $6.99/roll or 20 for
$5.99 each. Check to see if there is a minimum order for free shipping. Seems
like last time I ordered it, you could buy < 20 rolls as long as you were over
the minimum $$.
Janet
Hinshaw phone:
Bird Division Collection Manager fax
Museum of Zoology
University of Michigan
1109 Geddes Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079 USA
http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/birds
==============================
Date:
Tue, 26 Nov 2002 14:32:53 -0700
Reply-To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators <AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators
Carla, we
buy our stuffing cotton from Custom Hospital Products, Inc. (POB 14606,
Portland, OR, 97214, phone: 800-426-2780). It's a blend of 70% non-absorbent,
unbleached cotton and 30% polyester fiber. You can order individual rolls of 14
oz each (Cat. No. 0205-1), a case of 12 rolls (Cat. No. 0205), or in bulk (a
single 10# roll; Cat. No. 0205-B).
Cindy
Ramotnik
U.S. Geological Survey
Museum of Southwestern Biology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
==============================
Date:
Tue, 26 Nov 2002 13:42:27 -0800
Reply-To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators <AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators
Hi Carla,
I buy our non-sterile, non-absorbent (long fiber) for skinning (making bodies
as well as wrapping) cotton in Guatemala (when I go there). They have suppliers
here in the USA.
Goyescas
Corporation of Florida
Phone (305) 635-5321
Fax (305) 635-9037
US Cotton
Inc
New Mexico
Phone (505) 892-2269
René
Corado
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology
439 Calle San Pablo
Camarillo CA 93012-8506 U.S.A.
==================================================
Date:
Wed, 27 Nov 2002 08:02:11 -0500
Reply-To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators <AVECOL-L LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators
Comments
from the USNM folk:
The
cotton Paul sent us a few years back was exactly what we were looking for when
our old supply finally ran out. The long fiber allows for 'pull bodies' to be
made and used with ease (and the preparators who wrap bodies around sticks use
it too without complaints). In fact we went through this bale in no time and
had to place our own order for 8+ bales. This cotton is a cotton/polyester
blend (80/20?) and is non-absorbent and has nice 'loft' qualities. I find this
to be a desirable feature when out in the humid tropical climates, where the
dense absorbent cotton (i.e. Red Cross Cotton) will hold the moisture and the
skins dry slower. Plus, you can use the left over cotton to pack birds for the
trip home.
Another
plus to this cotton is the low cost. Yes, you have to buy a truckload of it,
but the cost per pound (~$1.50/lb) is much lower than the long-fiber absorbent
100% cotton (>$10/lb). For museums that don't do much prep this may not be a
concern, but for the USNM we couldn't afford to have all of the preparators use
the absorbent cotton for stuffing birds.
We
generally don't wrap birds here at the USNM, but I have used it for this purpose
and it will do the job adequately.
Like
others, we use the nice white absorbent cotton for making eyes. Also, it's nice
to have the absorbent stuff around to put in the mouth of a dead bird to
prevent fluid leakage or to use as a 'sponge' for spot washing birds.
Brian K.
Schmidt
Museum Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History
Division of Birds
================================
>>>
sweet AMNH.ORG 11/26/02 05:08PM >>>
Carla
A few
years ago I bought some from
Upholstery
Felt Co.
21817 88th Place South
Kent, WA 98031
253-872-8110
We had to
buy 8 bales, which is enough to last several collector's lifetimes. I sent a
bale to USNM - could someone there comment on the quality?
Paul
Paul
Sweet
Collection Manager
Department of Ornithology
American Museum of Natural History