ElToro Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I bought this Malungia laevigata trilobite ($5) because I felt sorry for the little guy. Broken and badly glued. Scratched up with only God knows what. I started to fix it by grinding and smoothing the scratched matrix. I'm leaving the trilobite until I acquire an air scribe, but felt I could at least fix the matrix. Any advice? PS. This matrix is very hard. Also, the first photo was taken in the early morning so has different lighting. "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Eow. Yeah poor guy :I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Being that abused I think you should call social services. Ha! Just kidding. I think waiting for an airscribe is a good idea. Also, with a bit of skill you could rebuild the damaged parts too. Could turn out real nice. Good luck RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 You've made it much more presentable already! It's tempting to go ahead and put lipstick on the pig, but think twice... "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToro Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Yea, I figure when my scribe arrives I could have a go at removing some matrix. It is an early Cambrian Chengjiang/Malong trilobite so deserves a little respect. "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNCollector Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Good looking little guy. If I were you, I would try to restore the broken parts and paint them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToro Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Good looking little guy. If I were you, I would try to restore the broken parts and paint them. I've heard of painting trilobites. With what? "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Ive used acrylics on some crabs and some fish, just never a trilo before. I don't see why not? RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToro Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 Ive used acrylics on some crabs and some fish, just never a trilo before. I don't see why not? RB Actual colour paints? I can't image doing that. Is there anything I can use to make it look better? Like a glaze or varnish of some kind? It looked nice and glossy but after washing rock dust off it it turned matte. Not sure what that's all about... "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Hey EIToro. Here is a crab prepped out a few years ago. It had no leg whatsoever on the right side, so to 'balance' it out, I carved in two legs and colored them with some acrylics. Just so you can see what can be done. Good luck whatever you decide to do. RB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Hey EIToro. Here is a crab prepped out a few years ago. It had no leg whatsoever on the right side, so to 'balance' it out, I carved in two legs and colored them with some acrylics. Just so you can see what can be done. Good luck whatever you decide to do. RB Now, that's some good work! I too use acrylics to camouflage restored bits. It's an acceptable practice in all conservation circles as long as you don't try to pass it off as authentic. I try to make mine slightly different than the original so it is obvious upon close inspection but not with casual viewing. 1 Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Wow, that's stunning Ron! John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToro Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Thanx guys! I've painted tabletop wargame miniatures since I was 15 so could do a great job, but I just don't like the idea. I'd rather have natural even with bits missing. I don't mind bits missing. However, a strange thing happened. After grinding I ran some cold water over it to wash the dust and the "sheen" came off it. I have another and that one is great and needs no work and I can see how shiny it is while my washed one in now dull and matte. Any ideas what happened? "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 There was a water based coating on it of some kind. Brush on some Butvar or PVA if you have any and you'll get a bit of sheen on it again. 1 Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToro Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 There was a water based coating on it of some kind. Brush on some Butvar or PVA if you have any and you'll get a bit of sheen on it again. Thanx mate! Yea, here is another trilo from the same guy. See how shiny it is and how dull the other is? Luckily the second one is great and needs no work! "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanx mate! Yea, here is another trilo from the same guy. See how shiny it is and how dull the other is? Luckily the second one is great and needs no work! Cool trilo. Some of the folks here use other products to give a little shine to their specimens. I stick with PVA because that's what I have around. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToro Posted February 27, 2016 Author Share Posted February 27, 2016 Cool trilo. Some of the folks here use other products to give a little shine to their specimens. I stick with PVA because that's what I have around. Yea, I havnt any PVA but have found a Paraloid supplier on the East coast of Australia so will get some eventually. I thought I was gonna have to get from US which would kill me due to the super low Aussie $ and shipping. I have a lot of fossils to consolidate! "That belongs in a museum!" - Indiana Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now