6ix Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Well, I've probably jinxed it by posting but here goes... Absolute beginner with few tools and less experience, but giving it a bash anyway. I have had a few test runs but this is the first good crab I have found. After spending a few hours with the engraver gently digging bits out I realised I was being too patient. More whacking was needed... (excuse the look on the models face - she was tired) So I have been using a screwdriver and several of the missus's fine jewellery screwdrivers as chisels to great result... Have found the left pincer I think, exposed a heap of rear carapace and found a bit of leg at the back I wasnt expecting. Might go back to the engraver tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 Quick, while you still can; sneak the wife's now misshapen, dulled screwdrivers back where you found them. Later when the wife asks, "Do you know what happened to my best 'drivers?" - blame the dog! It's your only hope of survival. Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted May 3, 2014 Author Share Posted May 3, 2014 LOL - the dog looks perminantely guilty anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted May 4, 2014 Author Share Posted May 4, 2014 Commentators curse! The engraver was getting nowhere at all in the darker, harder rock so I was gently chiselling around and the top of the pincer exploded. It hit my safety glasses and I heard bits landing all across the garage I'm tossing up the idea of getting a compressor and air inscriber - are they that much better on hard stone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLB Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) To answer you're ? Yes Edited May 4, 2014 by DLB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 The difference between an engraver and an airscribe is like campairing a very dull better knife to a samiri sword!!! Excuse my spelling please. If you do buy an airscribe, get the ME9100 from Paleo Tools, and get it with a 2 inch stylus and have him put two angles on the tip. if you do,,,,, you will be completely amazed! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 (edited) The difference between an engraver and an airscribe is like campairing a very dull better knife to a samiri sword!!! Excuse my spelling please. If you do buy an airscribe, get the ME9100 from Paleo Tools, and get it with a 2 inch stylus and have him put two angles on the tip. if you do,,,,, you will be completely amazed! RB I agree with RJB-san ! Edited May 20, 2014 by MB http://www.mbfossilcrabs.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 Wow so I looked up the price on those... I think I'll just leave the crabs outside & let another 10,000 years erosion take place instead I think I'll just put these hard ones aside and hope for another like this.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Hey 6ix. Check your private messages. Here is a picture of the crab I prepped out for another guy in exchange for two others. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 (edited) Beautiful job RJB.. I have been scowling at the crab for a few weeks after blowing the top of the claw so decided to have another go. I have for a while suspected they get a bit softer if left for a bit of time - so had another go with this one and found the same. not sure if its mental, the engraver overheating or some actual process on the concretion (fracturing or drying/humidifying). Have made more progress so tried to video it. The hardest part - the darker grey area is where a 5mm chunk separates LOL. Edited June 12, 2014 by 6ix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 I wish I could have seen the video. Not sure why, just wouldn't come up? I also think there is something wrong with my computer? Another photo maybe? RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted June 12, 2014 Author Share Posted June 12, 2014 Yeah will do another photo tonight if I get a chance. Your not missing anything stellar - just a noisy blurry vid of me playing with the engraver. Usually these vids require adobe flash player... http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ just make sure you untick all the "but wait, there's more" options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 I'm in a bad mood.- the small crab I was working on - had beautiful crystals in it pincer cavity....as I came in - in the back side - it exploded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Hey 6ix. I really don't want to download another program. but check your PM's RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 If you have hi many nice Tumidocarcinuses lying around, you should invest in a compressor and a ME9100 sopmeone else mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share Posted June 14, 2014 Hey RJB, Thanks for the PM's. I was in a dark place last night.... I was being so gentle but it really exploded.... I have had another crack at the hard boy... chipping around then bum end and came across bits I wasnt expecting..... Will upload photos in a minute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share Posted June 14, 2014 Mr. Explody.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted June 14, 2014 Author Share Posted June 14, 2014 And the main victim... front view (drawing pin didnt move to help you get a mental picture... And rear view where I wasnt expecting to find legs.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 The very second you see a hole or something loose,,,,,, Glue it. Super glue would work wonders. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 Thanks for the hint RJB - I have finally returned to that crab - I wore down the tip of the electric engraver and my patience a while back.. so have moved up to the fisher price "My First Air Engraver" What a difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted November 12, 2014 Author Share Posted November 12, 2014 Well, with RJB's advice ringing in my ears... I found this Quick trip down to grab a couple of tubes of super glue and I was glad I did, filled the hole, strengthened some flaky spots and BOOM the top of the claw came off. Now I have some advice for myself that I just learnt... Keep your work area clean!! Try finding the top of a claw in this lot!! Luckily I did - its underside is orange! So with even more glue everywhere (I may have gone overboard) we're making progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Starting to look good ! I hear ya! I learnt that lesson too. It pays to keep a clean work bench if bits fly off. I made myself a "cubby hole" that contains all my mess and it can be cleaned out easy after a session. Made of a plywood base with 3 walls and a shelf. Your scribe marks seem to run parallel to the shell surface. Are these finishing - smoothing strokes or is that how you work all the time? I found that its best to approach the shell dead on ( perpendicular) systematically working to produce a sharp matrix, shell transition. You might be able to see this in the time lapse I posted in the fossil of the month entry for this month. I'm still new to the prep game and the seasoned pros might have more tips for ya. I've been enjoying watching your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 Hi Dr Mud - I had considered making a material (cloth) working booth, maybee one day.... I found that those directions worked best for me for bulk removal - this thing is really tough compared to some others I have played with. I'm still figuring out where the crab is... but have switched to the dead on approach and slowed down a heap... I recon its looking good and wont be far off the limits of reach/angle. Sorry no photos, I'm up in Kaikoura for the night but will see if I can post some tomorrow night. Love your entry - I might PM you when I get near finished & see if I can coax some finishing secrets from you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6ix Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 Here's where I'm up to now...starting to get a bit more difficult around the front as the angles are getting hard... There is a heap of super glue on exposed areas.. I hope it will wash off with acetone or something similar! And another confession - I think I have been chasing the inside of the crabs claw.. I had though it may have been calcification but now I'm not so sure. See the 1mm line above my scribe marks - I have a sinking feeling that's the outside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Kaikoura! One of my favourite places. If you can get it yourself or afford it the crayfish is awesome! Looking good! Looks like calcite on the outside of the claw. Do you work under a lens? I've got a magnifying visor that made a huuuuuge difference and doubles as protection. Helps to make out details. I picked up a good one on the net for $40. Hey - ask away. I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I learned the same way - asking questions and looking at examples on the web. The keys seem to be making a sharp rock shell transition and smoothing out the tool marks. Then a light coat of your preffered stuff for really making the crab pop - I use PVA in acetone. Keep in mind that some crabs are easier than others too. One crab the rock will peel away nicely from the shell, others are sticky. Dark brown shell seems to be a good omen. I just started a pink one, with calcite on it. Keep the posts coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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