This is a tusk I recovered from a river sand bar in Iowa 24 hours ago. The tusk was in somewhat damp sand. It started to degrade right away once it was unearthed. I wrapped the tusk in a towel but it did dry out a bit. I got it home about 5 hours later and re-wrapped it in damp towels.
I am writing this post to spell out my plan based only on reading some other posts but not based on any experience. I would appreciate any advise. What am I missing or doing wrong?
-Add many zip ties to hold tusk together. Leave crusted-on sand for now.
-Wrap with damp towels and wrap that with plastic trash bags, NOT completely airtight.
-Store in dry basement for several months to gradually dry out.
-After drying period, carefully clean and "baste" with paraloid b-72 50:1
-Use more concentrated paraloid b-72 to glue loose parts. Lots of small crumbled pieces to deal with somehow.
-Cure for several days and then fill voids with PaleoSculp (or equal) a little bit at a time.
-Sand and buff
-Make a stand and show off!
Thank you for looking!