sixgill pete Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 I am considering trying this on my own. I have only ever partially prepped a partial enchodus jaw in similar matrix, but this will be more time consuming and detailed . Ophthalmoplax brassiliana, a Cretaceous crab from the PeeDee of North Carolina. When I busted the concretion it split into a few pieces, but you can see the carapace and one of the claws. any tips, tactics or dubious information will be greatly appreciated. 2 Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 The pictures are not as detailed as I would have hoped, but it is in there. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 I suggest going through several of the crab preps here on the forum. This should help you with orientation, where and how to start. Is the matrix soft like shale or is it more of a hard dolostone? Also another thing to consider is what tools are you working with. There are also videos on YouTube of crab preparations some from forum members. Best regards, Paul P.S. I am by no means an expert at prepping crabs. I just recently started. Everything I stated above makes it easier to begin, but sometimes you learn best by experience. ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 I suggest going through several of the crab preps here on the forum. This should help you with orientation, where and how to start. Is the matrix soft like shale or is it more of a hard dolostone? Also another thing to consider is what tools are you working with. There are also videos on YouTube of crab preparations some from forum members. Best regards, Paul P.S. I am by no means an expert at prepping crabs. I just recently started. Everything I stated above makes it easier to begin, but sometimes you learn best by experience. Thanks Paul. The matrix is what I would call soft you can work it with hand tools, but there are hard areas. I will look at YouTube, never thought of that. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Do you have a scribe? I would stabilize the bits on the joints and under side. Then, glue them back together and attack it with a scribe. 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...
dirtdauber Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 First thing that I'd do is glue the pieces back together with superglue. Then I'd remove as much of the soft matrix as possible with a dental pick or a pointed Exacto knife. May need an engraver or air scribe for the harder matrix. I generally drip a dilute solution of Paraloid B-72 on the specimen and base matrix to harden it after prep is complete. Should be a very nice specimen. -- George 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 Thanks George. I may start on this endeavor tomorrow. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Thanks George. I may start on this endeavor tomorrow. Good luck, Don! 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...
jpc Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Before you glue everything back together, I would leave enough unglued so that the fossil is still visible. Don't want to have to rediscover it. But really this is very very very difficult. You should just send it to me and I will happily add an east coast crab to my collection. Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 Thanks Tim, and BTW congrats on the promotion to moderator. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 5, 2016 Author Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) Before you glue everything back together, I would leave enough unglued so that the fossil is still visible. Don't want to have to rediscover it. But really this is very very very difficult. You should just send it to me and I will happily add an east coast crab to my collection. Have fun. Thanks JP. Next time I get into this quarry maybe I will find a few more with crabs in them. Seems like I owe you a little something anyways........... Edited May 6, 2016 by sixgill pete Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amour 25 Posted May 5, 2016 Share Posted May 5, 2016 Ask Ron. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks Tim, and BTW congrats on the promotion to moderator. Thanks Don. May your dental pick strike true! 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...
MB Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 (edited) I agree with George and JPC, nice specimen and good luck ! Edited May 6, 2016 by MB http://www.mbfossilcrabs.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 6, 2016 Author Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks MB. Going to take it slow and easy. Got to try if I want to learn. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 A real challenge for sure! But challenges can be fun. Just take your time and don't be impatient like me. Sometimes I have to just sit and look at something like this and go over my plan of attack until I feel comfortable and then start prepping, but these guys above have given you some great advice. Except for JP, don't send it to him, send it to me. I will give it the love it deserves. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 A real challenge for sure! But challenges can be fun. Just take your time and don't be impatient like me. Sometimes I have to just sit and look at something like this and go over my plan of attack until I feel comfortable and then start prepping, but these guys above have given you some great advice. Except for JP, don't send it to him, send it to me. I will give it the love it deserves. RB Where is the cussing out RB button...? : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 6, 2016 Author Share Posted May 6, 2016 Where is the cussing out RB button...? : ) Hmmmm ... didn't see one of them. Hey moderators Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Hmmmm ... didn't see one of them. Hey moderators I believe it is under development at the moment. Regards, 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...
jpc Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks JP. Next time I get into this quarry maybe I will find a few more with crabs in them. Seems like I owe you a little something anyways........... I had not thought of that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabfossilsteve Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 I prepared one of those crabs for Plax a year ago using air scribes. From what I can see, this one looks like it may be a very nice specimen. Are there pieces that go on the left side and can you see cross sections of the claw for the left side. Like JPC said leave unglued those parts that are already exposed. I used super glue. Because this looks like a pretty nice crab, you might want to practice on some other specimen first. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 6, 2016 Author Share Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks for the advice Steve Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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