Ptychodus04 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Here’s a before and after look at a small Diplurus newarki that I just finished for another TFF member, @LoneRanger. This is small and well preserved minus a nasty coating of pyrite on most of the fossil. This prep took 7 hours to complete. Tuesday, I started another specimen that is even smaller! These were collected before I was born! Can you find the fish? Hint, I scribed on it a bit before I thought to take a pic... 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...
Fossildude19 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Awesome job on that first one, Kris! Well done indeed. I know these aren't easy to do, either. Too bad there is a skull under the second fish! 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...
RJB Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Hey kris, ive got a fossil fish that is still in its egg case. Measures about 1/4 inch. I want you to prep it. Just kidding. I cant believe how small those fish are! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Just now, RJB said: Hey kris, ive got a fossil fish that is still in its egg case. Measures about 1/4 inch. I want you to prep it. Just kidding. I cant believe how small those fish are! RB Ron, these fish run from about 1 inch, to about 7 or 8 inches, tops. And they are quite difficult to prep out. 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...
RJB Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 2 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Ron, these fish run from about 1 inch, to about 7 or 8 inches, tops. And they are quite difficult to prep out. Yeah, I automaticly figured that. Especialy once I heard the word 'pyrite'! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 32 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Awesome job on that first one, Kris! Well done indeed. I know these aren't easy to do, either. Too bad there is a skull under the second fish! There's a bit of the skull preserved on the little one. Basically everything anterior of the operculum is gone. 32 minutes ago, RJB said: Hey kris, ive got a fossil fish that is still in its egg case. Measures about 1/4 inch. I want you to prep it. Just kidding. I cant believe how small those fish are! RB Ron, I can prep that for you no problem at all. It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. These fish really are a nightmare to prep. The matrix is extremely hard and sticky and the fish are super small so the bones are like hairs. This is now my 4th of these guys to work on and I have a routine established now. I have to somewhat blindly scribe with the Micro Jack to get down to the layer immediately above the bones. This is typically very thin. Then, oddly enough, with a very light "hand" on the abraider 600 grit silicone carbide is slowly taking the matrix off. This takes a ton of concentration and a healthy bit of experience though. Anything more than an instant on the bone and the silicon carbide will chew it up. 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...
Fossildude19 Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 2 minutes ago, Ptychodus04 said: There's a bit of the skull preserved on the little one. Basically everything anterior of the operculum is gone. I was referring to the extra skull, just below the fish to be prepped. 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...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 17 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: I was referring to the extra skull, just below the fish to be prepped. I understand now. It would help if I actually read your post correctly (Once again, I have use of a Homer Simpson emoji)! I thought that bit looked a little "skully". I may do a bit of exploration on that area. If there's a good bit of fish there, it would make an interesting multi plate. I'm thinking it may overlap the intended fish a bit. We shall see. 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...
jpc Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Cool fishes. Silicon carbide? Isn't that like a hardness of nine? Where do you get this stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 1 hour ago, jpc said: Cool fishes. Silicon carbide? Isn't that like a hardness of nine? Where do you get this stuff? It is in fact a 9. I buy it from a local rock shop. It is intended to be used in rock tumblers for initial polishing but with extreme care, it does an amazing job on this stubborn matrix. 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...
jpc Posted November 17, 2017 Share Posted November 17, 2017 Thanks. Good to know. I had to use Aluminum oxide on a specimen once. A set of Cretaceous bird verts form Ellesmere Island. Also a tough job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 I don’t have any data to back this up but I feel that if you have to go with a really hard abrasive, it’s best to temper that with an extremely fine grit. 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...
Ptychodus04 Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 I finished up the little guy this week. It’s not the most impressive specimen. The three fins I found are tucked up tight against the body. The bit bit that looked like a skull wound up just being a few random bone scraps. On to the next prep job... a cool Green River fish and insect plate! 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...
LoneRanger Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Great work Kris, thank you for bringing out the details in these pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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