Macrophyseter Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 I am wanting to remove this shark tooth for photography purposes, but it is attached to the display case via some putty-like adhesive. I haven't tried poking at it in fear of damaging the tooth (which is quite brittle), but it does appear to be somewhat hardened, although I may be wrong. Does anyone know how to best remove putties using household materials with minimal damage to the fossil? Any help is appreciated. If you're a fossil nut from Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Redondo Beach, or Torrance, feel free to shoot me a PM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 Take a stiff wire like a piano/guitar wire and hold it with both hands. Try to cut thru the putty where it meets the white box. Try to cut away most of the remaining putty with a utility/Xacto knife. Then, try to dissolve the remaining putty with common solvents such as turpentine, acetone or rubbing alcohol. Be careful if you think that the tooth has been glued or restored; you might dissolve it. 1 My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 I'll bet it's not as hard as you think. Try taking a paper clip or something real skinny and poke into it. If it's normal mounting putty, it should not harden and will lift off if pried upon. A butter knife or the like placed right next to the putty to give as much surface area supported along the tooth blade when you pry up will put the least amount of stress on the fossil. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 On 7/31/2019 at 1:28 AM, caldigger said: I'll bet it's not as hard as you think. Try taking a paper clip or something real skinny and poke into it. If it's normal mounting putty, it should not harden and will lift off if pried upon. A butter knife or the like placed right next to the putty to give as much surface area supported along the tooth blade when you pry up will put the least amount of stress on the fossil. I agree. This looks like normal mounting putty. I have a fossil dealer friend in the UK who mounts all of his small specimens thusly in the same acrylic cases. It is effectively the stuff us late 80's - early 90's teens used to stick our posters to the walls of our bedrooms so our parents wouldn't scream at us about all the holes in the walls...and ceiling. 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...
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