Ramo Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 A few years ago, my wife found a super heavy iron and glass coffee table used. We have had it in our home for a long time as is, but recently I decided to re-do it. (I wish I had before photos, but sorry.) I went to the lumberyard and bought some 1/4" plywood, and some 2 X 3 boards and some hinges. I pulled the heavy glass out of the recessed top of the table, and replaced with plywood. I then made a frame out of the 2X3's that fits on the table. I cut a recess in it to take the glass. When it is set back on the table it provides a gap about 1 3/4" between the glass and the plywood for fossils. I hinged one side to allow access and to keep the new top in place. I added some dividers and then a bunch of fossils from around my area. One end starts with stuff from the Lincoln limestone. Just above that is the Pfeifer Shale layer, followed by the Fairport, then Blue Hill Shale, Codell Sandstone, and finally the other end has Niobrara chalk fossils. I'll add some close ups of the different sections. I'm very happy to have these right here where I can look at them every day and enjoy them instead of having them out in the shop in bags! 2 For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted May 1, 2017 Author Share Posted May 1, 2017 Here is the Lincoln Limestone and Pfeifer Shale sections. 1 For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 Very cool, Ramo! I like it. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted May 1, 2017 Author Share Posted May 1, 2017 Here is the Fairport and Bluehill, followed by the Codell and Niobrara. (I'm considering getting some sort of felt or cloth to line the bottom of the case, but I haven't decided on that yet.) 1 For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramo Posted May 1, 2017 Author Share Posted May 1, 2017 Thanks Tim, Here is a close up to get a better idea of how it looks. (I guess I should say how it looks when the kids don't have it covered with dirty dishes, x-box remotes, pop cans, clothing etc.) For one species to mourn the death of another is a new thing under the sun. -Aldo Leopold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wauchula Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 Sand would look cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Looks good... I like the idea of lining the bottoms with felt - it might help somewhat to prevent the fossils from rattling and sliding around each time the table is bumped and moved (and if they still do, it will be on a softer surface than the wood) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFOOLEY Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Awesome!...that's my kind of table ...nicely done, Ramo. "I am glad I shall never be young without wild country to be young in. Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?" ~Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilselachian Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 I see some nice Cretoxyrhina mantelli teeth in the display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Very nice! (The missus and I were just talking about one day replacing the dining room table with something similar to this. Martha Stewart be snarged). ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNCollector Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 That x-fish jaw is stunning!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Now that is really cool! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbshark Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Very nice, I use sand in the bottom of one of my displays. It makes for a firm yet soft base and if any pieces are less than perfect you can partially bury them and they seem a lot more complete Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgehiker Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Great ideas above. I have a half dozen converted small coffee tables in my basement museum. This is one I have in the living room upstairs. As suggested above, I line the bottoms with a material like felt so that specimens such as the the concave-sided T rex teeth keep in place even if the table is jiggled. Glass topped tables obtained at thrift stores for a couple dollars each. Much less expensive than buying even a sheet of glass. Also, easy to lift the lid and change the display every so often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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