Catalog and labels

[Jurassicz1]

So I want to number and catalog my fossils. But most of them are on display with labels and In my opinion it does not look good with fossils on display. How can I still have the numbers there as they are very important. Under the display labels? I do want to put numbers on matrix pieces. Not sure how to do it though. I will use excel.

 

Regards

[FranzBernhard]

14 minutes ago, Jurassicz said:

does not look good with fossils on display.

Any chance to share a pic with us ?
Thanks!

 

Helpful advice will come in soon .

 

Franz Bernhard

[Jurassicz1]

1 minute ago, FranzBernhard said:

Any chance to share a pic with us ?
Thanks!

 

Helpful advice will come in soon .

 

Franz Bernhard

Will do! Sadly I'm not home right now but when I come home. I will take some pictures.

 

Regards

[Kane]

Seems that a partial solution is already at hand. Taking good photos and including those in a database with the catalogue information is not a bad idea, and can potentially make for much faster retrieval of the specimen, if needed. 

 

There are archival pens you can purchase as well, and the catalogue number can be inscribed on the matrix in an inconspicuous location (usually underneath or behind the specimen where it is not visible in display). 

[crabfossilsteve]

I put a line of Speedball white super pigmented acrylic on the back of the specimen then write the specimen number on that.

[Ludwigia]

I just use very small adhesive labels on the non-display side.

[Mark Kmiecik]

3 hours ago, crabfossilsteve said:

I put a line of Speedball white super pigmented acrylic on the back of the specimen then write the specimen number on that.

 

I do the same and finish it off with a coat of clear lacquer.

[Sjfriend]

9 hours ago, crabfossilsteve said:

I put a line of Speedball white super pigmented acrylic on the back of the specimen then write the specimen number on that.

Is it the white acrylic ink you use for the line? Trying to look it up and only Speedball white i found was ink or screen printing paint.

[erose]

I have been using a product called Liquid label from Light Impressions. It is Acryloid B-72 lacquer. I bought a kit years ago that had two bottles each of clear and white.  If the matrix is light in color I use the clear to create a patch to write on with Prismacolor india ink tech pens. If it is a dark matrix I use the white. After the ink dries thoroughly I then coat with clear. 

 

I could not find this stuff again at Light Impressions (discontinued?) but here is something similar: https://www.universityproducts.com/paraloid-b-72-for-labeling-museum-objects.html

 

There are plenty of other suppliers of archival materials and tools.  You do not necessarily need the stuff sold strictly for paleo.

[Mark Kmiecik]

I've found that pretty much any white acrylic will do the job. However, if you want the number to not fade in ten years you'll need to use archival pens to write the number. Lacquer will yellow over time, so if you want it to stay clear, use Minwax Polycrylic.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Mark Kmiecik