SAFETY NOTE: Always wear full personal protective gear. There is a helpful guide here.
At the minimum always wear a respirator, full eye protection and gloves when working with the acids, glues
and B72 as it is very toxic. When using the air scribe, hearing protection, eye protection, vibration reducing gloves
and a respirator is required. You don't want to be breathing in that rock dust!
Manual Prepping
For manual prepping I use an air scribe, a clone of the Chicago Pneumatic CP9361 with a solid 5cm (2 inch) tungsten carbide tip.
Acid Prepping
I use either acetic acid or sulfamic acid with a calcium phosphate buffer. Acid prepping is a very slow process and requires good ventilation and patience. The acid is diluted to around 5% strength.
Glues and consolidants
For strengthening brittle or flaking fossils, I use B72 Paraloid beads that have been dissolved in acetone and paint it onto the fossil using a small paint brush. I usually carry a small amount of B72 with me when I fossil hunt to stabilise any delicate fossils.
