Hey all,
I have a Green River fish I purchased many years ago. The bones mostly seem well preserved, but the fins at least (and likely all of it) was painted a dark brown and then some sort of a sealant was applied. The matrix is different from the usual split fish material, it is more like a hard sandstone (much more sturdy than the split fish layer) and it is a brownish color. Likely the fish was painted to "improve" contrast with the dark matrix. I would like to remove the paint and restore the fish to its natural condition. I have soaked it in acetone for hours (in a fume hood of course) and that removed the sealant but the paint is almost untouched. Does anyone know what kind of paint commercial dealers use (or used to use 30 years ago) and how to remove it?
Don