This crab concretion made me laugh….for now

[Doctor Mud]

So this crab concretion from New Zealand is laugh out loud funny. 

I’ve seen similar at this site but nothing like this. It has a minimal “coating” of rock, so you can make out the shape of the crab . The legs are curled underneath with the tips showing. The claws raised in front. 
it even stands on its leg tips if you put it down. 
 

 

Now I’m here because I think that laughing might stop when I attempt to prep it. This site is known for crabs with no legs preserved, and traditionally split. As rock is hard, shell is soft. 
problem number 1 looks like at least hollow leg tips. So I’m thinking injecting star bond superglue in there. 
but not thin? As this might seep through the porous shell and make prepping those legs a nightmare? 
 

Any tips (excuse the pun) appreciated 

 

Calling all crabmeisters……

 

Edited November 8 by Doctor Mud

[jpc]

I have considered injection for prepping hollow ammonites and crab claws.  I have never gotten around to it and still have the fossils; waiting in drawers.  Maybe use a two part molding plastic of sorts and a syringe, but then what do you do when you get to the next hollow leg section that does not have an easy access?  This may also work well using something like carbowax... polyethylene glycol, a water soluble wax.  

[Thomas.Dodson]

Interesting stuff. Not crabs but I have injected thick superglue (the gel kind) in hollows of concretionary ammonites before to stabilize them. Like JPC mentioned you might be able to use a syringe and inject some epoxy or something that won't seep through the shell.

[Doctor Mud]

5 hours ago, jpc said:

I have considered injection for prepping hollow ammonites and crab claws.  I have never gotten around to it and still have the fossils; waiting in drawers.  Maybe use a two part molding plastic of sorts and a syringe, but then what do you do when you get to the next hollow leg section that does not have an easy access?  This may also work well using something like carbowax... polyethylene glycol, a water soluble wax.  

Great suggestion and observation. I hope I don’t end up providing the access to those legs inside  but that’s the fun of prepping, every one is different. 

I’ve seen you mention carbowax on here before and I did some reading. It looks like great stuff! 

Edited November 8 by Doctor Mud

[Doctor Mud]

2 hours ago, Thomas.Dodson said:

Interesting stuff. Not crabs but I have injected thick superglue (the gel kind) in hollows of concretionary ammonites before to stabilize them. Like JPC mentioned you might be able to use a syringe and inject some epoxy or something that won't seep through the shell.

Great stuff - thanks for the suggestion. Starbond comes with little applicator nozzles - hopefully the thicker glue will run through them. 
 

 

[Ptychodus04]

15 hours ago, Doctor Mud said:

Great stuff - thanks for the suggestion. Starbond comes with little applicator nozzles - hopefully the thicker glue will run through them. 
 

 

medium Starbond runs through the applicator tips just fine. I don’t use cyanoacrylate unless Paraloid isn’t a realistic choice for adhesive so, I don’t know about the thicker varieties.

 

You could start by injecting a 5% Paraloid solution into the voids to stabilize and “seal up” and harden the shell, then go in with cyanoacrylate for additional strength.