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Back in the day, I'd just use a cheap rock hammer from the hardware store for everything
Dropped about $75 on a proper Estwing geological pick a few years back, and it's the only tool that hasn't chipped on me when prying out stubborn concretions. Anyone have a good alternative for cleaning matrix off delicate specimens without damaging them?
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robin_schmidt572mo agoMost Upvoted
Honestly, most people forget about air. A cheap air scribe is a total game changer for cleaning delicate stuff. It uses tiny vibrations to basically blow the matrix apart without touching the fossil. You can find older models online for not much more than that Estwing. It takes some practice, but it's way safer than picking at something fragile.
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I read an article in Rock and Gem magazine about using dental tools for cleaning. You can get a basic set of picks from a hobby store for under twenty bucks. The sharp, fine points are perfect for scraping soft matrix out of tiny fossil crevices. I use them on my crinoid stems from the local creek beds and they don't leave a scratch. Just have to be careful not to bend the tips on harder rock.
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