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Preserving Bison Horn? (Read 4140 times)
Dantheman
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Preserving Bison Horn?
09/03/08 at 19:09:14
 
Several years ago my son found a mastodon tooth.  We were told by a man at the herculaneum museum to use an elmers's glue and water mix to preserve it.  Is this still considered a proper way to preserve items such as the tooth and this bison horn?  I know things change over the years and thought someone may have come up with a new and improved method.  Want to get this horn stabilized asap if it needs it. Thank you for any info.

Dan
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FossilDude
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Re: Preserving Bison Horn?
Reply #1 - 09/25/08 at 11:44:04
 
I would not use Elmer's glue because it is tough, if not impossible to "un-do".  The gold standard for fossil stabilization is Butvar-76 (polyvinyl butyral), a powdered resin you dissolve in acetone and apply in low humidity environment.  You can mix it thin to penetrate deeply into the bone or a bit thicker to hold loose outer fragments together.  It is easily reversible by re-dissolving in acetone. Click here to see an excerpt from "Florida's Fossils" on the use of Butvar for fossil preservation.

There are other things out there that work: non-yellowing clear acrylic urethane, variations of model airplane cement, etc., but Butvar has excellent long-term stability and it's hard to be sure exactly what you are really getting in common hardware store items.

I will put out the word and do a little research and on where to get it.
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FossilDude
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Re: Preserving Bison Horn?
Reply #2 - 09/25/08 at 12:03:44
 
Here is another resource for you, Fossil Preparation and Conservation from the Florida Museum of Natural History.
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FossilDude
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Re: Preserving Bison Horn?
Reply #3 - 09/25/08 at 12:28:20
 
Members of the Florida Paleontological Society used to be able to order Butvar-76 for $7.50 per pound (plus shipping), but I see that now they supply Vinac B-15 (polyvinyl acetate) instead for $7.00 per pound.  Worth looking into. Of course, you'd have to join the FPS for $15/year and it's all snail-mail.
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Cecile11
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Re: Preserving Bison Horn?
Reply #4 - 07/31/10 at 04:56:42
 
You can use a transparent paste (though inexplicably marketed as clear) specifically produced for bonding stone. 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.
snohomish landscaping
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