Ken Mannion

Fossil Preparation Tools Equipment & Supplies    

Fossil Finish Varnish White spirit based. 150ml glass bottle. Mail order UK EEC only Blended and produced specifically for us to enhance finished and prepared fossils. Artists picture varnish has long been the mainstay to lightly and naturally enhance many fossils especially among commercial preparators. It is, unlike wax polish and other finishes, easier to apply and more importantly, easier to remove if it does not look right. Artists varnish which is obviously and primarily designed for artists paintings, can understandably be difficult to apply to some types of fossil. Most brands can react with minerals in the rock turning the varnish white on drying, for example, others are too thick or glossy. Our brand has been developed and produced specifically for us over many years and has been used on countless numbers of fossils. While not being a cure for poor preparation or preservation it has a proven ability to enhance many fossils quickly and easily.

Quick Setting Stone Putty Contains stryene. 750ml tin. Mail order UK EEC only As used by stone masons A transparent paste (though inexplicably marketed as clear) specifically produced for bonding stone. Produced in Italy it can be coloured polished and mixed with rock particles. Sets with the addition of 3% paste from tube supplied. Sets in 20 minutes or longer if mixed weaker. Unlike most other general glues is UV resistant meaning it does not alter colour over time Decent sized cost effective 750ml tin with a long shelf life. One can get through a lot of glue on large ammonites and the like.

Super Glues Cyanoacrylate. 20ml fine spouted plastic bottle. Mail order UK only 4 to suit different applications Thick - red            Medium - yellow          Thin - blue           Superfast - green We have tried many makes of superglues, some have proved to have a poor shelf life some are in containers that are too big or wieldy to handle others have a smell that I reckon could damn near put you under in a confined workshop. We have settled on these as the most cost effective and practical to use.

Super Glue Activator 200ml aerosol. Mail order UK EEC only Debonder 20ml glass bottle with applicator brush Mail order UK EEC only Activator comes in an extremely handy aerosol with pipe and lots of propellant to quickly get the activator where you want it to instantly set Cyanoacrylate super glue adhesives Debonder is applied by the enclosed brush and softens hardened superglue enabling it and the previously glued part to be removed.

Milliput 4 ounces carton. Two part epoxy putty Ever popular dry rather than sticky mix putty with a plasticine consistency that can be shaped, smoothed and even formed wet Dries overnight. Ideal for making up missing parts such as broken spines and ribs. Can be carved and painted when set.

Stone Polish 350g approx bar The enduring 'white stick' an easy to apply bar form of a cerium oxide type polish specifically made for rock. Swiftly polishes stone and fossils when applied to a mop driven by a rotary spindle. Approx dimensions 2 inches square and 4 inches long. Quick way of getting a smooth surface on fossils and/or matrix... the polished surface can then usually be returned back to natural with an abrasive source if required.

PVA 250g granules Conservation grade high purity PVA granules. (Polyvinyl Acetate) enabling mixing to various concentrations dependent on the Fossil application. Can be mixed with acetone( when it becomes very quick drying) or water ( when it turns white but dries colourless) among other solvents. Used as a penetrant or coating especially on very porous or "flexible" fossils or matrixes prone to movement or shrinkage such as mammoth teeth or sub fossil bone. Thick mixes are an effective glue. Can be as thick as treacle or as thin as water with various drying times totally dependent on how you mix it.

Paraloid B72 100g Beads Conservation grade high purity Paraloid beads. (Ethyl-Methacrylate) enabling mixing to various concentrations dependent on the Fossil application. Mixed with acetone( Available from chemists DIY shops or paint suppliers) and other similar solvents. Used as a very effective penetrant or coating being very quick drying. Extensive uses during all stages of fossil preparation.When mixed thick is an effective glue that can be reversed much easier than most other adhesives.

Contact us here kenmannion@btinternet.com

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