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
310-434-4702 - W of Los Angeles Co.

-----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 abosorbent 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 absorbant, 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:734-764-0457
Bird Division Collection Manager fax: 734-763-4080
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

==============================

X-Priority: 3 (Normal)
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.
TEL (805) 388-9944 FAX (805) 388-8663

==================================================

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 (ie 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 who 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
NHB E-605, MRC 116 Phone: (202) 633-9453
10th & Constitution Ave NW or (202) 357-2031
Washington, DC 20560-0116 Fax: (202) 633-8084

E-mail: schmidt.brian@nmnh.si.edu

>>> 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
79th Street at Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
USA

Tel. 212 769 5780
Fax 212 769 5759
e-mail sweet@amnh.org
http://research.amnh.org/ornithology/index.html