He’s been making his way to DCTC for a long time now.  He’s a self proclaimed shellac-aholic.   He wears suspenders.

Know who he is?

I guess the title gave it away, didn’t it… but it’s Don Williams – conservator extraordinaire!  We were lucky enough to get to pick his brain for two days on everything from Shellac and veneer to why men don’t want to wear droopy pants and the new hydro-electric system for his country home.  And I don’t even think we scratched the surface of his knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other subjects we covered in Don’s two day visit:

Shellac (of course!) and some Shellac books to look for online

One of Don’s many past times: Searching the Patent Office Database

The ‘appearance’ of an object and how to make an invisible repair; even if you’re color blind

The L.A.B color system

Primary Colors (they’re not what you’re thinking!)

The Molecular Weight scale

Mold Making

Waterborne Shellac

The miraculous Hide Glue and its many uses (as well as how its made)

Tips on Conservation Reports

The molecular structure (with molecular drawings included) of various elements

Polar elements

The Teas Diagram and how to work with it

The wonders of EVA glue

His barn; where it was bought and how it was put together

Plus! Many slideshows and pictures.

And at the very end…some advice on rearing children

 

Those two days were packed! with information.  Don left us with a quote (one among many!) that I’m going to leave you with.  It’s one of the reasons he knows so much, after all.

“Remain Curious”

Thanks for coming to talk to us, Don – it was a great time!

 

*Note for next time: Bring duct tape