joshuajbelanger Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 I have been trying my hand at prepping for a few months now. Started with some nice air scribes, then tried air abrasion. I bought a cheap badger airbrush and threw tons of media at fossils. To me, it seemed that no matter what the pressure or sand agent, I saw absolutely no results. So, I bought a AEC and had it overnighted, hoping I was just using the wrong tool. Well, absolutely I was using the wrong tool. The moment I got the AEC up and running, I finally understood why it's called an air eraser. Slowly, but surely, the tough dolemite matrix melted away, as if it was being miraculously erased. HOTDOG! I thought these calymenid trilos I found in Kentucky were gonna be a wash...but dag nabbit, the details are coming out! This isn't the final prep, and I don't have any before prep pics, but this is a huge improvement. This trilo was just showing 1/4 of one side of its body. I didn't even know if it was fully intact...sure is! Even pulled out both the eyes. Super stoked guys. Level up-points into prep skill. BAM 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerogrower Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Nice man. Thank you for playing guinea pig. I've been wanting to take the plunge now I know. Tell us more as you go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuajbelanger Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 Well, it's a bit different for me. I have an outside workstation so the total cost of air air abrasion was like 50$. It's amazing, and I would definitely suggest it to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Isn't an airbrush a thing that artists and autobody people use to blow paint at things? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 33 minutes ago, Wrangellian said: Isn't an airbrush a thing that artists and autobody people use to blow paint at things? Thats what I thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuajbelanger Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 Well this was my original air eraser...which did nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Aways nice when something new works. Good going. RB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Glad it worked out @joshuajbelanger 1 John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 @joshuajbelanger I had one of those Badger units a long time ago. It was junk also. It's marketed as an air abrasive unit but it pushes almost no abrasive. I had similar results with it and promptly used it to help fill my wastebasket. 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...
jewelonly Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 @joshuajbelangerand everyone, Is this the AEC you were referring to? I need to go to the next step for prepping (above dremel and dental picks) and would appreciate advice. If it is, what else do I really need? If it is not, what should I get? Thank you all. Leah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuajbelanger Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 Yeah, @jewelonly that's the right one! Although, I wish I would have spent a little extra cash and went with the model with the bigger external cup! This thing runs out quick! But man, it's so much better. @Ptychodus04 yup, it doesn't do squat for abrasion! Seemed to blow a lot of powder out, but no abrasion, even after I upgraded the tip. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 7 hours ago, jewelonly said: @joshuajbelangerand everyone, Is this the AEC you were referring to? I need to go to the next step for prepping (above dremel and dental picks) and would appreciate advice. If it is, what else do I really need? If it is not, what should I get? Thank you all. Leah Hi Leah, Depends on what you are prepping in terms of what your next upgrade should be. Maybe a good air scribe would be a better all rounder for you? you will be pleasantly surprised by the difference between an air scribe and an engraver. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 18 hours ago, jewelonly said: @joshuajbelangerand everyone, Is this the AEC you were referring to? I need to go to the next step for prepping (above dremel and dental picks) and would appreciate advice. If it is, what else do I really need? If it is not, what should I get? Thank you all. Leah That's what I have Leah. You'll need several different abrasives for different hardness of fossils/matrix such as sodium bicarbonate (baking section in your supermarket), dolomite and aluminium oxide (a big auction website). As as has been said you will need to fill up the cup often. You MUST wear lung and eye protection, the abrasives are very small and can cause serious health problems if you don't use the relevant safety equipment. You'll also need a compressor to run it, the bigger the better. Mines a 50 litre compressor. Big ones won't need to pressurise air as often saving your neighbours ears. It won't affect you ears as you'll be wearing ear plugs..... 1 John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewelonly Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 20 hours ago, joshuajbelanger said: Yeah, @jewelonly that's the right one! Although, I wish I would have spent a little extra cash and went with the model with the bigger external cup! This thing runs out quick! But man, it's so much better. @joshuajbelanger, Thank you for the info regarding the external cup. 17 hours ago, Doctor Mud said: Hi Leah, Depends on what you are prepping in terms of what your next upgrade should be. Maybe a good air scribe would be a better all rounder for you? you will be pleasantly surprised by the difference between an air scribe and an engraver. @Doctor Mud, Thank you for suggesting this. I will research the air scribes as well to see if one of those might work best. 6 hours ago, JohnBrewer said: That's what I have Leah. You'll need several different abrasives for different hardness of fossils/matrix such as sodium bicarbonate (baking section in your supermarket), dolomite and aluminium oxide (a big auction website). As as has been said you will need to fill up the cup often. You MUST wear lung and eye protection, the abrasives are very small and can cause serious health problems if you don't use the relevant safety equipment. You'll also need a compressor to run it, the bigger the better. Mines a 50 litre compressor. Big ones won't need to pressurise air as often saving your neighbours ears. It won't affect you ears as you'll be wearing ear plugs..... @JohnBrewer John, thank you for the information on the different abrasives and for telling me about the compressor!! I hadn't realized I would need one. I will invest in good ear, eye, and lungs protection also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuajbelanger Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 Not just ear, eye, and lung, I find if I'm not using a full face apr, I get grit in my teeth. It's like sand in my mouth for hours...that can't be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 16 hours ago, joshuajbelanger said: Not just ear, eye, and lung, I find if I'm not using a full face apr, I get grit in my teeth. It's like sand in my mouth for hours...that can't be good. I actually use a respirator, they're not really that expensive especially compared to your health! 1 John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 On 7/24/2017 at 1:40 PM, JohnBrewer said: I actually use a respirator, they're not really that expensive especially compared to your health! I fully agree. My respirator has a .3 micron filter and a VOC/acid canister and it was under $40. Much less expensive than a lung transplant in 40 years. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilAndTreasureHunter Posted April 30, 2021 Share Posted April 30, 2021 (edited) On 7/21/2017 at 8:37 PM, joshuajbelanger said: Well, it's a bit different for me. I have an outside workstation so the total cost of air air abrasion was like 50$. It's amazing, and I would definitely suggest it to anyone. Thank you for sharing! Edited April 30, 2021 by FossilAndTreasureHunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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