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Pretty much the title- i have an ammonite i split recently. I started prep outside using safety a dremel 290 and wearing goggles and a paint respirator, worked for maybe an hour in total- but then i read about safety on zoicpaleotech and got terrified of getting/having given myself silicosis. Now i’m struggling to find the proper type of protection to continue- i cant find the one mask they suggested on the website, and i dont know how to pick a good one that will protect me against silica and other stuff. Any good suggestions?

Hello everyone! I recently found a small stone next to a newly dug road, and it is full of cross-sections of shells. I would clean it well first. But to emphasize the cross-sections, do you perhaps know of any way to paint only mineralized shells? So, for some kind of coloring - such that the quartz (I assume that the shells are mineralized into quartz?) absorbs and retains the color, and the basic medium - limestone, does not retain the color. That would be fantastic to see.. Thanks for every reply !

Hey guys! I'm sure someone here can help me out. Without going into too much detail, I have a client with a micro jack and they believe it is a micro jack 2. It's about 10-12 years old (maybe even older, I'm not sure) and the writing on it has worn off so it can't be identified. I'm convinced it is a micro jack 1 and that because they are under the belief it is a 2 they are using the wrong spring and potentially stylus for it (they can never seem to get it to work properly). I was just wondering if the design of the 2 or 1 has changed much over the last 15 years? I've attached a picture of the tool they believe to be MJ2. I did look on the PaleoTools website and the design of the 1 does look a little different to this one - this appears to have the same head as a 2/3. Another thought I had is that they've made a Frankenstein tool and using the wrong head for it as well

I just wanted to share this, thought it might be of interest and there's definitely room for improvement and tips! This was the first fossil mammoth tusk I restored and prepared a few years ago- a juvenile mammoth tusk that was split laterally almost perfectly down the middle. It was sourced from central Alaska, though not sure if it was discovered in a mining operation or if it was exposed on a river bank as so many are. The first step was to submerge and soak the entire tusk in a PVA solution, followed by Apoxie sculpt and banding to merge the two broken pieces and restore some of the tip. I haven't ever done this before so I used the grey Apoxie, in retrospect maybe the white color would have been easier for later coloring? Maybe mixing color in the Apoxie pre-hardening? After banding and curing, the two pieces held together and it was time to sand sand sand down to I think 2000gr. Lastly, I colored the Apoxie fill with various wood stain colors, however I wasn't a huge fan of that- does anyone have any recommendations on how to do that better? I've never been a painter and know nothing about what to use or color matching, but would love some info! I've done other projects and thought about taking on restoration projects where this knowledge would be really helpful but admittedly I'm really inexperienced with coloring any sort of anything. I've seen people reconstruct 1/3 of a cave bear skull and it's like you'd never know unless you were really looking for it. I have no idea how they do that! I'm sure that takes some serious artistic talent that I don't posses, but any tips for this would be appreciated. Originally I built a stand out of bent/polished brass and a block of wood I got from a trophy store that is somehow still in business in this little Alaska town. A couple years after I made the original stand I decided to make a new stand out of a small petrified wood slab/slice. I really like the look of it better (though I'm not crazy about the brass anymore), but I had a really hard time drilling the holes in the slab- I broke a few bits before I bought some stone/tile bits, and even those weren't great! I was only able to drill the holes just barely deep enough to hold the brass wire. Any tips on drilling petrified wood?? I have a few other small things and potentially a few larger items that would look killer on a similar stand. I've done a few tusks since this one, none of them with such significant damage, though none are complete tusks I think I'll post another one of the interesting ones that has amazing vivianite and what I think are actual cobalt crystals in the internal cavity. The restoration done on this tusk is only for me, I have no plans on selling this so in looking for reconstruction/restoration tips & tricks, it's purely for my own collection and enjoyment- not to try and fool some unwitting buyer on our favorite auction website! To be honest, the preparation is the most fun for me! Enjoy! Nick

I have inherited a group of stunning fossils. The crown jewel is a saber tooth cat skull, still in matrix but plenty of teeth are showing. The original owner found it himself in the badlands of South Dakota and planned on learning how to prepare and restore it himself. As fun as I'd think that would be myself, I also want to be realistic. I have never prepped a fossil, and don't want to mess something like this up. I'd like it to actually come to full glory in my lifetime and so I think this is the best course of action. I know this won't be a few hundred bucks and I'm not looking for any discounts or amateur preparations. If anyone knows who would be willing to take on such a project, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

Hello guys! I'm Bradai Mohammed from Algeria, I'm a geologist, graphic designer, Mag. Editor, addict of fields, and fossil hunting, I confess. Currently preparing my Master degree in Geology of Sedimentary Basins (actually nearly done) working on the Foum Tineslem Fm. (Tremadocian) of the Ougarta ranges. Like the majority of geologists, I have a humble collection of minerals, fossils and even shells from different ages; and recently entering the world of fossils prep. To see my collection, visit my account on Instagram @the.gneiss.mo The reason I joined this forum was to look for specialists in Brachiopods, Gastropods, Ammonites, etc., in order to properly ID my fossils, and I hope we get to know each other and make friendships. I'm honored to share with you the same passion and love.

Hey everyone! I have a ton of fossils from a recent trip to the White River Formation and I need to start prepping them. Unfortunately, I don’t have an air abrasive unit, but I have started to get the supplies. So far, I have an air compressor and a sand blaster. (Sand blasting cabinet) The last piece I need is the tank to hold and connect the powder to the sand blaster. Where should I look to get one? Any response is appreciated! Thanks!