How can i make it more fun?

[Jimmy From Holland]

wow so much information here.

I wanted some info on how to do better fossil preparation. But I read a whole story about a bird that was cleaned. With x ray and super microscope. I myself thought I had a good tool but the needle that cleaned the bird it was so thin.
Although I am very happy with my stuff, I do experience some difficulties. The fossil fish of Scotland slate are not so solid. i have a little one now but the slate is very hard. and the fossil soft.
I damage unnecessarily I think. what do i need to make it even more fun? i have 3x zoom goggles dnsons.co.uk airpen. I ordered a UV lamp, maybe that will work well. i also tried sulfuric acid 97%
(which works very well on pyrite by the way)

The difficulties I experience are.
can't see how the fossil is going.
While scraping I hardly see any color difference of bone or matix.

Stone is hard fossil softer.

 

thank you in advance

 

 

 

[Jimmy From Holland]

[Jimmy From Holland]

I moved on and got a little more visibility. fortunately it is a complete small fish

[Jimmy From Holland]

now a night in the sulfuric acid un1830.

[jpc]

H2SO4?  what does the un 1830 mean?  

Be very careful with this stuff... it is nasty.  Why did you go to acid?  And why sulfuric?   It looks like the fossil was coming out quite nicely without it.  

[Jimmy From Holland]

12 hours ago, jpc said:

H2SO4?  what does the un 1830 mean?  

Be very careful with this stuff... it is nasty.  Why did you go to acid?  And why sulfuric?   It looks like the fossil was coming out quite nicely without it.  

I did it to remove the fine layer of sediment from the fossil, so the color difference is slightly more visible when I work with it. it doesn't always work out well. and a whole evening is a bit long I see. I did get very good results with sulfuric acid, especially on pyrite (UN1830 is on the label). The fish is now ready.

 

Edited May 29 by Jimmy From Holland

[Jimmy From Holland]

I did it to remove the fine layer of sediment from the fossil, so the color difference is slightly more visible when I work with it. it doesn't always work out well. and a whole evening is a bit long I see. I did get very good results with sulfuric acid, especially on pyrite (UN1830 is on the label). The fish is now ready.

[Jimmy From Holland]

I'll do the next one without acid.
 

[hadrosauridae]

13 hours ago, jpc said:

H2SO4?  what does the un 1830 mean?  

Be very careful with this stuff... it is nasty.  Why did you go to acid?  And why sulfuric?   It looks like the fossil was coming out quite nicely without it.  

 

UN 1830 is the hazmat ID number.  It so that an emergency responder to a spill or fire sees that number (typically on truck tanks, vats, etc) can quickly find out how to safely deal with the hazard.

[hadrosauridae]

1 hour ago, Jimmy From Holland said:

I'll do the next one without acid.
 

 

Acid prepping is very tricky and takes a lot of practice to get right.  It also requires soaking in fresh water for at least 2 - 3 times the length it was in acid.  Sulfuric is acid is also WAAAAY too strong to use. Most fossils that are acid prepped are done with acetic (vinegar) or sulfamic (NOT sulfuric) and they are often in the 2 - 3 % strength range.

Edited May 29 by hadrosauridae

[Jimmy From Holland]

1 hour ago, hadrosauridae said:

 

Acid prepping is very tricky and takes a lot of practice to get right.  It also requires soaking in fresh water for at least 2 - 3 times the length it was in acid.  Sulfuric is acid is also WAAAAY too strong to use. Most fossils that are acid prepped are done with acetic (vinegar) or sulfamic (NOT sulfuric) and they are often in the 2 - 3 % strength range.

Ok thanks for the info. i used 97% :|

[jpc]

On 5/29/2023 at 9:03 AM, Jimmy From Holland said:

Ok thanks for the info. i used 97% :|

wow!!!

[Jimmy From Holland]

I ordered a mini sandblaster I saw on the forum here nice results with a sandblaster.
 

[Ptychodus04]

I've used sulfuric acid for fossil prep before in a very limited application. I used it to etch a coprolite in order to expose the fish bones inside. I've also used hydrochloric to etch some tracks. You definitely want to dilute your acids a lot. Your fish looks like the acid etched the scales.

 

Even a cheap microscope will make your prep better. I started with a $300 fixed focal length stereo microscope from Amscope for my first scope. As you get more involved, a variety of scribes is also helpful

[Jimmy From Holland]

22 hours ago, Ptychodus04 said:

I've used sulfuric acid for fossil prep before in a very limited application. I used it to etch a coprolite in order to expose the fish bones inside. I've also used hydrochloric to etch some tracks. You definitely want to dilute your acids a lot. Your fish looks like the acid etched the scales.

 

Even a cheap microscope will make your prep better. I started with a $300 fixed focal length stereo microscope from Amscope for my first scope. As you get more involved, a variety of scribes is also helpful

Thank you you are absolutely right. on this fish I also thought I saw that the sharpness of the scales was slightly less. I will look for a microscope and maybe other scribes. I do have different points flat, point and nail shape. to be continued i have another fish in materix i will do it with microscope. thanks for your tips