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So last year I got around to consolidating the fossils in my collection with paraloid B-72. I used a 4% concentration by volume. Unfortunately when doing this, I missed what I've since seen some call a crucial step, and that is to ensure that each fossil is sufficiently dry before consolidating. My question is, how massive of a mistake is this, and how one would go about correcting this. From my understanding, the theory is that the plastic traps the water inside the fossil which causes it to rot from the inside out. How long does this process take to occur? I havent had any fossils breaking apart in the meantime. I would think that since acetone is miscible in water, any water that is inside the fossil would have mixed with the acetone during the dipping process.

I'm about to stabilize some invertebrate shells from Tennesse. I decided on using paraloid B-72. What ratio can I used to hold the fragile shells together, without causing any major visual alterations?

Hi all. Some of the Kem Kem dinosaur teeth in my collection have cracks in the enamel or missing bits of enamel. Therefore I thought it would be wise to consolidate these teeth. I was thinking about using a 5% solution of paraloid b-72 in acetone. I do have a few questions about how to apply the consolidant. - I am planning to apply the paraloid using a small brush. How do you usually do that? Do one side first, wait for it to dry and then do the other side? - how long does it take before a tooth is completely dry and you can touch the fossil again with your bare hands? Minutes, hours, days? - I believe many of the Kem Kem teeth are already kind of consolidated using super glue. Is this correct and does this affect how the paraloid works or how I should approach the process? Thanks!

So, I thought I would share this topic with you all. This is going to be the beginning of a long thread with any luck. This is the first one I have prepared, coming close to the end. It's turned out ok. I feel it could be better, While looking at multiple examples, and studying the bone through journals, previously prepped specimens, and other resources is great. It's a completely different game, learning to prepare first hand, and the differences in each nodule affecting position and rotation of the bones. So a friend of mine contacted me saying he had some unprepared nodules, and me loving a prep challenge, accepted. . Arriving shortly after my trip to the IOW, (which went well and I will do a report on shortly) this nodule was delivered by the good local postal woman It had already been split to check the contents, and was more of an example piece than a more pristine uncracked nodule And this is the current prep stage I am at. Just exposing more of the vertebrae column and ribs and the fine details, and smoothing out the scribe marks. This work can take some time, as it needs b72 after each new section is exposed, due to how small and fragile the bones are, but when you compare this to how they are normally seen( just split in half with a complete loss of detail) I think the time is well worth the effort, and once this is finished I can't wait to get started on the next one. I hope you all enjoy reading this short prep story and will try and post more of my prep work in the future. (Been slacking on the show and tell part in recent months.)

Hi all, I am finally getting ready to proceed with stabilizing the specimens I found in this trip: They are basically big sandstone steinkerns, now fully dry. They were found in ferrous sandstone concretions surrounded by sand. The matrix is soft , pieces can be broken off with fingers. I was advised to brush ammos with a PVA solution, but then I thought what if I use Paraloid instead? So the questions are as follows: 0. Is it worth it? 1. If so, what solution should I use? 2%? 5% or more? 2. How much will be required? (the biggest ammo is about 40 cm in diameter and 15 cm thick, 20+kg) 3. How and how many times to apply? With a brush? Once a day for several days in a row (as with PVA) or otherwise? 4. Do I need to cover the surface with a stronger solution afterwards? Thanks in advance! The matrix:

I am looking specifically for a preference in use as a consolidant for Verts in Whiteriver formation matrix.