Untamed conlinoceras “total makeover”

[Shaun-DFW Fossils]

I posted about my recent conlinoceras tarrantense fossil hunting trip this morning, but I’ll start a separate topic to show “before & after” preparation of each ammonite. Today, I spent about 2 hours with my dremel 290 (the loudness and control of a jackhammer, but the power of a toothpick) to get down to the center whorls and knock off some exterior matrix. Next up will be slightly more scribe work and mostly air abrasive work before applying a polyurethane coat to the outside. My experience with “woodbine” ammonites is that they’re generally easier to prep than limestone Fort Worth formation/duck creek ammonites, but occasionally they will have much harder material to deal with. Very different experience overall though. 
Before:

after (still more to do):

before:

after:

before (by far the easiest and prettiest one):

[Ludwigia]

Lookin' good!

[Jaybot]

On 8/24/2024 at 10:14 PM, Shaun-DFW Fossils said:

(the loudness and control of a jackhammer, but the power of a toothpick)

  I hear ya. Someday I also need to upgrade.

 

Great prep work by the way!