12kg Tumidocarcinus prep

[Doctor Mud]

18 minutes ago, Entoloma said:

Thanks! Yeah, the drive mechanism is a Chicago CP9361. I will go to the store tomorrow and see if I can find a replacement roll pin. It shouldn't be a specialised part, which is good

Great - keep up the awesome work and keep us posted!

 

Do you use any water removal in your air lines? I was wondering if the corroded pin could be from water vapor. But then you might get other issues like occasional blasts of water/oil and accelerated wear on the piston etc. so could be just a broken pin.

 

easy to put a dessicant or other water remover in line

[Entoloma]

Just now, Doctor Mud said:

Great - keep up the awesome work and keep us posted!

 

Do you use any water removal in your air lines? I was wondering if the corroded pin could be from water vapor. But then you might get other issues like occasional blasts of water/oil and accelerated wear on the piston etc. so could be just a broken pin.

 

easy to put a dessicant or other water remover in line

I have very clean and dry air coming through my scribe. I use a drop out air filter system. I wonder if a bit of grit got in there, or it was just the vibration. It broke in the middle. No sign of corrosion on the pin

[Doctor Mud]

Just now, Entoloma said:

I have very clean and dry air coming through my scribe. I use a drop out air filter system. I wonder if a bit of grit got in there, or it was just the vibration. It broke in the middle. No sign of corrosion on the pin

Nice -I couldn’t see corrosion on there either - and it looks like you know what you are doing there for sure! So not surprising that you have your set up humming along nicely. 
 

[Entoloma]

5 minutes ago, Doctor Mud said:

Nice -I couldn’t see corrosion on there either - and it looks like you know what you are doing there for sure! So not surprising that you have your set up humming along nicely. 
 

I'm still learning haha. Hopefully I will be up and running soon. I need a 3'32 3'8 roll pin. Hopefully one of the hardware stores has something similar. There are so many different sizes!

[RJB]

Good luck on the scribe.  Its always something.  Very interesting coloration going on with your concretion too. 

 

RB

[Entoloma]

I managed to source the correct size roll pin from an NZ online store. Finding the right size was tough locally. Removing the old one seemed to be more difficult. It was really stuck!. Finding a 2.5mm pin punch locally, meant that I would have needed to buy a set.... Problems problems... Luckily I was given the idea to use the flat side of a drill bit. That worked well, though it was really stuck in there! All fixed now though.

 

Working on my crab yesterday for 4 hours, I was working on that claw, and hoping for a good orientation. The further I went down, the more dirty it became, with thin crusts of rock wanting to stick. The claw is unfortunately pretty crushed, but at least it has its shape. I have seen worse afterall! I think for the next session, I will try and figure out where that smaller claw leads, so I dont bump into its dactyl accidentally, but I will see how I feel. I might end up working on the carpus instead. 

[RJB]

Crushed or not, I'd say its lookin purty good. 

 

RB

 

[Entoloma]

Began work on the left claw today. Started on the carpus, then on to the merlus. I managed to expose more of the top left leg, which looks a lot nicer and larger now too. The carpus was separating very well, unlike the carapace. I think started on the claw. Its just as broken as the right hand claw, but at least its not tucked in! I am really happy with the orientation of the claws. There is still a few more hours to spend on this crab, but im slowly getting there. Despite the cracks and the dodgy leg, I think this crab will look great when finished

[RJB]

Heck Yeah!

[Entoloma]

50 hours in.

I feel like im on the final stretch with this crab now. The dactyls were separating away from the rock wonderfully, which surprised me. Normally its the opposite. I am taking the rock on the outside of the claws down now, and then need to work on a few bits and bobs. I hope tomorrow I can do all the detail work done as well, and smooth it out. If not, it will wait for Thursday. 

 

Below - leaf blowers are great for drying fossils after being washed! 

[RJB]

Lookin good.  That rock smoothing is my most favorite thing to do on a crab conc.  Best of luck

 

RB

[Ptychodus04]

1 hour ago, RJB said:

Lookin good.  That rock smoothing is my most favorite thing to do on a crab conc.  Best of luck

 

RB

 

I hate rock smoothing!!

[Entoloma]

FINAL UPDATE:

 

6 hours went past pretty fast today. I had a couple of bits to focus on, and then to touch ups. Pretty ordinary rock removal really, but only the finer 2mm pointed stylus to remove as much of the crud out from the cracks on the claws, and tidy up the edges on the rest of the beast.

 

First 4 photos show the before and after my touch ups. Not too bad I think. Anyway, that took about three hours. Then came rock smoothing. Im no good at this, but used a rotary dremel to get the bulk of the dips and divets out. Still not the greatest, and I know you wouldn't be happy with it RB! I can always go back at a later date I suppose. It works. It started out at 12.2kg, and mostly working on the one side, it now weighs 7.75kg. I will take a bit more off that other side so it will fit in a stand, but I need to buy some big enough first!

 

The last photo shows it next to my last project. A 155mm concretion.  My latest one is 258mm I think. Its been fun! Gonna take a wee break from crabs now, but I have a 22cm hard concretion next!

[RJB]

Hey entoloma, you did a great job.  I too never think I did a good enough job.  I sometimes have to stop looking at a project and quit messin with it so I can call it done.  I can look at projects from years past and still think more work is needed.  We preparators look at the little tiny imperfections and are sometimes not happy because of that.  Most folks look at a fossil in its entirety.  You did a great prep job and dont let anyone tell you any different.  If they do, give me their number and I will take care of it. 

 

RB

[RJB]

21 hours ago, Ptychodus04 said:

I hate rock smoothing!!

We all seem to have our forte.  You are one of the best I've seen at fish fins!  Not sure why I like rock smoothing so much, but to me its very relaxing.  How weird is that?

 

RB

[grandpa]

Beautiful work!

[Ludwigia]

Well done!!

[mr.cheese]

Very well done, I have enjoyed this prep. Keep on doing what you are doing, I would be more than happy to have done that myself!

[Ptychodus04]

Well done @entoloma

 

7 hours ago, RJB said:

We all seem to have our forte.  You are one of the best I've seen at fish fins!  Not sure why I like rock smoothing so much, but to me its very relaxing.  How weird is that?

 

RB

You definitely have me on tool mark removal. Let's make a deal, I'll send my pieces to you for smoothing and you send me your fish for fin prep. That won't cost much in shipping.