Highlighting Fossils/ Shining Questions (Sharks Teeth, Molars)

[shark22]

I am going to be making a display for all my fossil molars and sharks teeth. I have a Meg tooth that is just shy of 4'' and enamel still intact however it doesn't shine. Does anyone here use like an enamel coat on their fossil for display or do you display them as is? I guess I would like to ask how everyone here displays their fossil teeth/molars? THANKS!

[njfossilhunter]

Alot of people I know that scuba dive for meg's in South Carolina uses...... Butvar. Check with your local hardware or paint store. It leave a very nice THIN...coating and makes the enamel on the tooth look like new and the root usally look a bit shinny ,,,like if was wet. ...its the way I would go.

[Darktooth]

You are probably going to here alot of debate about this topic. If this is going to be for your display and you have no intention of ever selling or trading it , I say do what you like. Putting coatings on fossils and sharks teeth especially is generally considered a no-no. I nyself put a 50-50 mixture of Elmers glue and water on only the nost fragile of specimens, only as a hardener. This is considered ok by most collectors i know. I also did put a enamel coating on the roots of a meg and mako again for hardening purposes. The roots had so many cracks i was afraid they would break off. Most collectors that i have talked to do not believe in adding a coatingto fossils to enhance apperence. That my take. Hope it helped.

[Ludwigia]

Beeswax is also a good solution. It can be polished and it's easily removeable with acetone. There are a number of products which use it as a basis, like the "Rember" we use in Europe.

[njfossilhunter]

They all have their advantages and disadvantages...... but nothing beat's Butvar...Its what the professionals use to preserve their specimens and in the right mixtures....it can't be beat. I have seen many teeth done this way....it makes a dull tooth look like new.

Edited April 6, 2015 by njfossilhunter

[jpc]

butvar or vinac. This is what museumprofessionals use. Elmer's is not stable and will likely turn yellow before you die, and you will be sad. ( I posted the same thing recently on another post).

Edited April 6, 2015 by jpc

[shark22]

Cool, I appreciate the responses! Darctooth, I do agree with you but I don't think I could sell my findings...I could take a nice vacation with the money but I'd rather not part with them. For the people who use butvar, do you have an example of what the fossil looks like with the before and after coating pictures? How much butvar to use?

[bone2stone]

If you do not want to go with the butvar treatment there are alternatives that are somewhat acceptable.

I personally use a clear fingernail polish thinned down with a little fingernail polish remover.

When you want or need to remove it a little fingernail polish remover, without any additives, and a small paintbrush and it is back in original condition.

It does not penetrate deeply and leaves no residue after very little cleaning effort.

I use it to protect "Crabs" while I prep them. Treated as I go and remove it I wish to.

I normally leave it to "highlight" the details for show only.

The trilobite "as my avatar" is treated in this.

Your choice now you have multiple choices.

Jess B.

[shark22]

Thanks, Jess. Do you combine the polish and remover or do you add the polish followed by just a little bit of remover?

[bone2stone]

Thanks, Jess. Do you combine the polish and remover or do you add the polish followed by just a little bit of remover?

I use the top off of a twist container.

Pour 50/50 PLAIN fingernail polish and clear gloss enamel polish."non-streaking"

Mix it, I use wooden skewers or toothpicks.

It is ready to use when solution does not "blob" on blunted skewer.

Try it on a lesser specimen and graduate to whatever till you are satisfied with the results.

Try different solution strengths. Straight from the bottle works but you get better results with a mixture.

Some of the better enamels will not leave paintbrush marks, "non-streaking" so don't cheep out on the stuff.

I will not mention brand name, some cover girl may not appreciate her favorite fingernail polish used to treat fossils.

I have some trilobites and a few notopocorystes crabs that have been coated for 30 years.

I only use it on specimens that are almost the same color as the matrix.

It makes them stand out from the material it is embedded in.

I do not use it on specimens such as echinoids or some other crabs with a high degree of ornamentation.

Jess B.

Edited April 7, 2015 by bone2stone

[shark22]

Sounds great! Thanks!