The Capability of the Laser Application for Selective Cleaning and the Removal of Different Layers on Wooden Artworks

4 Summary

We could demonstrate that the laser ablation for the cleaning or the exposure of wooden artwork is a very promising technique. Using a short pulse lasers with a wavelength of approx. 1064 nm the material “wood” has a higher reaction- and damage threshold than the removal threshold of most of the other layer material. This fact can be explained by the lower absorption at this wavelength.

It is of importance to investigate in the exposure and cleaning of unpainted wooden surfaces, because, as demonstrated in this contribution, the insight into this subject is not sufficient up to now.

Especially with respect to painted wooden surfaces it is, up to now, impossible to give a standardized formula. The here presented procedure: careful tests with an accompanying scientific investigation — will endure further on.

Furthermore detailed and fundamental scientific investigations are necessary for a full understanding.

For the authors it is very important to point out that emerging vapors and particles have to be exhausted directly at the source. First investigations have shown that the exhaustion presents a precondition for a riskless working and thus for a wider application.