The ones displayed still in the rock look better and display better. However the ones which are fully prepped reveal more about the fossil and the detail. Both great 👍
10:23 both look interesting, but i guess after seeing this prep, and how difficult it got, right is more practical. Plus, it's more shelf stable. Awesome prep, as always.
wow, this is phenomenal! you got this one down to basically just the crab, that is amazing! great work! I like the one with the rock removed but both are very cool.
I like them both, although the damaged crab makes me think more about how it is a fossil, and is no longer a movable object, but it really is a snapshot in time of both the crab and it’s environment at death. Both fossils have uses and purposes. Fun to see!
Your preps always make me smile but this one made me smile even bigger. Seeing more of the creature inside feeds the imagination more. That's why we are fascinated by fossils right? We try to imagine what it was like when it's life ceased. Like a window in time. To me, this prep was a clearer view that told more of a story. Well done. I have a small crab to prep and this makes me want to get it back out to work on. To me it's the ultimate challenge to reveal as much as is possible. I hope you found it a little more enjoyable going a little deeper. I think I saw you smile a little bigger too.
Like this comment if you prefer the crab with most of the rock removed (like the one in this video)... or like the comment below if you prefer the one with more rock.
I find it all very therapeutic watching you prep your treasures 👀👀..personally I like the ones left with a frame of the natural stone surrounding them if its to be more of a centrepiece however I do also enjoy seeing you expose them right back as well🤷🏽♀️ Its all mesmerizing!Fabulous work yet again 🦀 🙌🏽
Very nicely prepped 👏👏 And I would say they are both really amazing but if I had to choose 1 it would probely be the left one with all the rock removed becouse then you can see a lot of amazing detail of the crab
I like both, but for different reasons. I like the one partially exposed for a wall hanging and the fully exposed for a display piece, people can touch... carefully. Another super job. Be happy, safe and stay healthy. 😷⚒
I love seeing your prep work...both results are great as far as I'm concerned. I love how the fossils sit in the concretions...but they are very good when freed from the rock prison! Just much more fragile!
That was interesting seeing the crab revealed at both speeds (from last night and today). Two thoughts, 1) if you hadn't taken off as much rock, you might not have seen its Harry Potter lightning bolt (way cool BTW), and 2) I always enjoy your music. As the expert, you probably can literally feel how much rock you can take off before the crab becomes unstable. I work with my hands, too. I always trust my hands. Whether you leave the rock on or not, just watching your videos over the years shows you have moved from apprentice to master of your craft. Excellent work, my friend.
I like both styles, they each have advantages, but I rarely see the "fully exposed" style of prep so I found that fascinating, especially with the way you can see the details in how the shell was crushed. The "in the rock" style presents better but the more natural look has a lot of appeal too. Great work!
I found your channel last night from Reddit and binge watched a ton of your videos. Hearing your genuine excitement when finding the fossils makes me so happy 🥺
I like them both, though I do like being able to see more detail of the fossil. The framed one is clearly more stable and can be handled but that fully exposed crab fossil properly supported would make a great display piece in a museum.
Yeeeeah, how nice is that one!!! Fantastic work, i mean it! And as a gift- turning around on the table makes it look like it´s own award!!!! Get on with it, you´r doing a great job;-)
Damn you, Mamlambo. I was about to head out and get busy then saw this. I've got no option but to put the jug back on and wait. Haha.. Cheers for the awesome videos in 2021!!!
Really nice job. Do like the size of the less rocks pinchers but what would keep it more stable. Alot of work. Wonder how far he traveled as a concretion? 🦀🦀
Thanks for posting this to Reddit, came over to have a look and it’s AWESOME that you and your channel, this hobby and community exist! Who knew :) all the best mate!
To be honest I like both. The all rock removed would be great in a display case with a lazy Susan turning it. And the one with mostly rock left would be great on a desk.
Greetings from the state of Ohio, U.S.A. I had a few questions about these crabs and was going to write you, but then I read comments you made in the description and that pretty much answered them all. Lol. Really like your videos, although I had to turn the volume down when the "music " started. Wishing the best of luck and health in the new year. Keep on doing what you love.
I've been hoping you would do this. I was hoping for a little bit more removal around the head and between the body and large claws... Tough call! I would enjoy having _bith_ displayed 😊😊 As always.... _GREAT_ work!! 👍👍
After watching again I was hoping the leg wouldn't break off this time lol. I completely prepped is good to show the crab in full, but can be tempting fate staying in one piece. In the matrix might be better especially with a one off. Thx again and stay safe and rock on. 👍🇦🇺
All your work is great no matter how you prep them! Revealing a specimen to any point or any with their natural flaws are worth displaying to me. I'll say it to you a million times...I currently can't rockhound or fossil hunt but I have you to keep me interested/informed! Thanks 😊
That's awesome !! . Great find and prep work and preservation :) . I prefer the one that still has the round concretion around it as a lot less likely to damage.. all the best and stay safe x
I just noticed in this video that the segments had titles...and I freakin' loved it! So cool to know which part I'm looking at now. I like both prep styles equally, probably because each lets me appreciate the fossil in a different way. Of course I would love to see more of both. 😁
That’s almost scary good. So intact considering the age. It’s beautiful. 💕♥️💕 I like them both. But the story told by the one on the left is more compelling.
Both Preps are great. More removal of stone does show the way it possibly became a fossil, like you said victim of under water avalanche causing the damages. The Preps with more stone left may make it a more stable display piece, besides better if you ship it(?). The belly of the crab reminds me of the face hugger in Aliens 😆. Very great work, it is fascinating watching you reveal the fossils something never seen by Human eyes until you remove the overburden!
I like the one where most of the stone was removed as it gives a more detailed picture of the crab fossil. But for stability the ones left in the rock matrix are probably preferable.
Just found your channel today, absolutely love it. It was oddly satisfying watching that come out of the rock. I do think you need to add something though. With that music playing while you're prepping there needs to be a gratuitous 5 second slow motion shot, maybe when you're brushing away debris or something else with a brush. Seriously though, this was a lot of fun, time to watch about 10 more in a row now.
Great find and even better prep! As someone who prefers matrix-free fossils over those in matrix, it's great to see one of your crabs prepared like this - though I'm fully aware and appreciate the challenge! It's just that (to me, at least) nothing quite compares to the full immersive experience you get from a fossil that's matrix-free. Besides, I think you did an awesome job at it ;) Just to nitpick on the terminology, though: ventral derives from the Latin word "venter", meaning "belly", thus the underside; whereas dorsal comes from the Latin "dorsum", or "back", thus referring to the upper side of the specimen. Unless I misread your intention, you seem to have swapped the terms around in your chapter headings :P
Awesome prep,both have their own appeal,with or without the matrix surrounding them. I'd like to see a more complete specimen with as much as possible removed,but I don't suppose you know until you uncover it what the condition will be. Just do what you do and keep amazing us. Happy hunting.
Thanks so much! If I find one that is in better condition, I can try and remove ALL the rock one day! I need to prep something different though. Maybe a nice bone cluster!
Yes! Ha... I just left a comment on a video asking about pretty much this exact thing. Just found this one. I live in Nebraska, if you can find exposed limestone we have tons of marine life as well. Mostly cronoids and coral but ive gotten a few urchin spines and other neat spiral shells.
Both are beautiful preps. I like the crabs in the concretion (on the half-shell? ;) ) but maybe have come to that aesthetic through watching your videos. Years ago in a shop I really only wanted to buy an item that they were using as a support for displays. It was (I believed at the time) an incredibly realistically carved stone crab. I wonder now if it was a well-prepped fossil with all of the surrounding rock removed. Either way, I understand why they weren't interested in parting with it. Thanks for this video. My hands would ache for days after all of that work.
Looks awesome! You are really skilled with the chisel. You should consider investing in an abrasive gun to be able to fine tune the transitions between the fossil and matrix. Picking one is hard, I say both got its merits. To appreciate the fully prepared one to the maxI think it is up to the way it is displayed. Maybe you could make an stand from clear acrylic to show it in a way that both belly and shell would be seen. Or even cast it into clear resin. As always these preparation videos are highly appreciated!
I really like seeing so much ventral area exposed but personally my favourite style is where the fossil is prepped to expose as much as possible with a base/pedestal of rock remaining but carved so it looks like it's just sitting on a rock. Those ones make really nice displays but for education the one with the rock surrounding shows both the dorsal and ventral sides and is also strong and stable enough to not be so worried about bits falling off. Really it's down to individual preference but either way it's awesome to see a nearly matrix free example and a good showcase of your prepping skills
They are both beautiful specimens, it's always lovely to see a whole crab but the one in the rock can be displayed more easier. Another great video 👍💕💕💕💕
Fully exposed fossils (and aprticularly crabs) are very impressive and nice to display but they are also very fragile. I would say its worth a try because of the spectacular scenery you can have from a full prep like this one. But Don't get me wrong, both are great and maybe keeping full prep for fossiles with good preservation woul be the best from my point of view.
It depends on the crab and the preservation. If I was collecting these and selling some to the fossil collecting community, the less matrix more time prepping would be my high end and the more matrix less time prepping would be less expensive specimens.
I like the way the crab left inside the rock looks more than the fully freed crab. However, I like being able to see more of the crab too. For instance the apron on the bottom of the crab seems to indicate a female. It is well rounded and takes up a larger amount of space than what is seen on a male crab. I may be wrong as I am basing my opinion on what I see on blue crabs. We always throw the females back so they can lay eggs.
Hey there, been finding some similar fossils like these and was wondering if you go into any detail on any videos on the type of cutting tools you’re using. Been using silicon carbide wheels of various sizes but they seem to wear really quickly. Thanks for putting these videos out there, super enjoyable to watch
I like both versions of the crab. If you want to get really artistic, do 1/2 the crab crawling out of the rock-like the half is emerging from it and leave the rest as a crustacean. That would be very cool too!
Hey, thanks for your content. I had no idea, I needed just this. Could you consider making a video about getting into the hobby, looking for small fossils etc?
Love these videos. Quick question, is Dorsal and Ventral reversed in the timeline description? I would have thought the dorsal side to be the back of the crab? I am no expert on crab physiology though! Thank you as always for bringing us along on these adventures. Edit: I think both versions are great. The embedded ones are great display pieces but it's also fascinating to see as much of the crab as possible.
You are correct. Dorsal is the back. Although with crabs it is kinda tricky because they carry their abdomen (the part of shrimps that we eat) tightly tucked under their bellies - the roughly triangular area with the tip pointing to the front. This means that the ventral side of the abdomen is facing the belly which is also ventral and you actually see the dorsal part of the abdomen.
I was looking for this comment so as not to repeat a, "Well, actually..." :) The video is tagged backwards as you said. Most of the dorsal part of the crab would be what we think of as the top of a right-side-up crab, and the ventral would mostly be the underside.
I really enjoyed watching the process of you carving all of the rock away (well, as much as the fossil could take) and I love being able to see the whole fossil rather than the fossil with a ring of rock around it. Preference aside, my question was during the process is "how far do you actually go and why?"
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The ones displayed still in the rock look better and display better. However the ones which are fully prepped reveal more about the fossil and the detail. Both great 👍
I definitely like seeing as much of the fossil as the condition and fragility allows.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks Valiant!!
10:23 both look interesting, but i guess after seeing this prep, and how difficult it got, right is more practical. Plus, it's more shelf stable. Awesome prep, as always.
wow, this is phenomenal! you got this one down to basically just the crab, that is amazing! great work! I like the one with the rock removed but both are very cool.
Thank you! Cheers!!!
I like them both, although the damaged crab makes me think more about how it is a fossil, and is no longer a movable object, but it really is a snapshot in time of both the crab and it’s environment at death. Both fossils have uses and purposes. Fun to see!
Your preps always make me smile but this one made me smile even bigger. Seeing more of the creature inside feeds the imagination more. That's why we are fascinated by fossils right? We try to imagine what it was like when it's life ceased. Like a window in time. To me, this prep was a clearer view that told more of a story. Well done. I have a small crab to prep and this makes me want to get it back out to work on. To me it's the ultimate challenge to reveal as much as is possible. I hope you found it a little more enjoyable going a little deeper. I think I saw you smile a little bigger too.
Thanks so much Jason!! You're right, I always think of what the crab was up to while I prep it. You're right, it did tell a story!
Like this comment if you prefer the crab with most of the rock removed (like the one in this video)... or like the comment below if you prefer the one with more rock.
if you find a big one can you try this on it
@@brutebison8387 That will be so much work, but would look amazing!
I like the one with most of the rock removed. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks jim!!
Looking forward to the big crab and I enjoyed the live cast five stars my friend thank you for sharing
My pleasure Joseph!
I find it all very therapeutic watching you prep your treasures 👀👀..personally I like the ones left with a frame of the natural stone surrounding them if its to be more of a centrepiece however I do also enjoy seeing you expose them right back as well🤷🏽♀️ Its all mesmerizing!Fabulous work yet again 🦀 🙌🏽
Oh thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the prep - hard work but fun to see the end result!
Very nicely prepped 👏👏
And I would say they are both really amazing but if I had to choose 1 it would probely be the left one with all the rock removed becouse then you can see a lot of amazing detail of the crab
Thanks Robin!!
I like both, but for different reasons. I like the one partially exposed for a wall hanging and the fully exposed for a display piece, people can touch... carefully. Another super job. Be happy, safe and stay healthy. 😷⚒
Love all of your videos but definitely enjoy the prep videos! Love the reveal!!!
Thanks Sandra!
I love seeing your prep work...both results are great as far as I'm concerned. I love how the fossils sit in the concretions...but they are very good when freed from the rock prison! Just much more fragile!
That was interesting seeing the crab revealed at both speeds (from last night and today). Two thoughts, 1) if you hadn't taken off as much rock, you might not have seen its Harry Potter lightning bolt (way cool BTW), and 2) I always enjoy your music.
As the expert, you probably can literally feel how much rock you can take off before the crab becomes unstable. I work with my hands, too. I always trust my hands. Whether you leave the rock on or not, just watching your videos over the years shows you have moved from apprentice to master of your craft. Excellent work, my friend.
The "Harry Potter" Crab!! I love it. Wonderful videos, preparation, and host. Damn man I enjoy you.
Thanks so much!!! I wonder what patronus it would have?!
I too like the partially exposed, as opposed to the fully exposed. It's like a hidden treasure. Awesome!!
I LOVE the content and i didn't skip the ads bec u deserve it. I'm looking forward to more videos. As a teenager, this is super relaxing to watch.
Thanks mate!! Glad you're enjoying the videos 😀
I like both crabs equally!! Amazing prep 👏 🙌
I like both styles, they each have advantages, but I rarely see the "fully exposed" style of prep so I found that fascinating, especially with the way you can see the details in how the shell was crushed. The "in the rock" style presents better but the more natural look has a lot of appeal too. Great work!
I have to say that I like them both, this one was way more work though!!
I found your channel last night from Reddit and binge watched a ton of your videos. Hearing your genuine excitement when finding the fossils makes me so happy 🥺
Awesome!!! I'm glad you're enjoying them Courtney!
love how the one totally prepped out the rock shows how it likely died, interesting bit of detail that isn't seen often
Its like an episode of CSI
Man I loooove the almost full prep look! Looks so cool!
Thanks Cooper!
Hey, you have a great gift and it's nice to look at your work.. 😁👍
Thanks so much! Appreciate it!
Fellow cantab here. They are all amazing. Well done.
Thanks so much Gavin! Some great fossil spots around 😀
I like them both, though I do like being able to see more detail of the fossil.
The framed one is clearly more stable and can be handled but that fully exposed crab fossil properly supported would make a great display piece in a museum.
Yeeeeah, how nice is that one!!! Fantastic work, i mean it! And as a gift- turning around on the table makes it look like it´s own award!!!! Get on with it, you´r doing a great job;-)
Thanks mate!! I really appreciate the encouragement 😀
Always enjoy the videos. I liked the more exposed crab.
Thanks Greg!
I have 2 questions. Can anyone learn to do this and what is the liquid you put on the fossil
Bravo! Enjoyed this one very much. Both styles of prep are beautiful, however, I do confess the full prep is exciting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Damn you, Mamlambo. I was about to head out and get busy then saw this. I've got no option but to put the jug back on and wait. Haha.. Cheers for the awesome videos in 2021!!!
Hahhahaah hope it was worth it Steve!
I like it still in the rock. The specimens you prep look amazing.
Great find ,top class prep as always 💪👍
Glad you enjoyed it!!
The crab you prepped looks awesome. Each one shown have pros and cons in my book.
It amazes me on the reviels, how the crab is looking like it is just fell asleep in that position then was encased in the mud & muck of the bottom.
Yeah, they always look very relaxed!
i prefer the one with the rock removed, but the other one is more safe to handle without risk of damage
Really nice job. Do like the size of the less rocks pinchers but what would keep it more stable. Alot of work. Wonder how far he traveled as a concretion? 🦀🦀
Thanks mate!
Absolutely insane! I always keep an eye out, whenever i'm down the beach, for a fossil. Turns out they could be anywhere(ish)!
I'm the same! I always have to check out each rock!
Thats an amaaaazing prep......well done mate
Thanks bro!!
Waaaw beautiful ! I prefer this one, with most of the stone away. Bravo !
Thank you! Cheers!
Thanks for posting this to Reddit, came over to have a look and it’s AWESOME that you and your channel, this hobby and community exist! Who knew :) all the best mate!
As far which prep I like best, I think they both are beautiful… but I like the one without any matrix best. 😊
Thanks so much Margie!
Awesome Job! I really like the exposed one best but it really depends on how damaged they are to begin with.
I totally agree!
To be honest I like both. The all rock removed would be great in a display case with a lazy Susan turning it. And the one with mostly rock left would be great on a desk.
I like the idea of the lazy Susan rotating with it!
Greetings from the state of Ohio, U.S.A. I had a few questions about these crabs and was going to write you, but then I read comments you made in the description and that pretty much answered them all. Lol. Really like your videos, although I had to turn the volume down when the "music " started. Wishing the best of luck and health in the new year. Keep on doing what you love.
Thanks mate!
I like them both, but I prefer the new one (without so much rock), even with the cracks in the shell.
Good job, congratulations.
Thanks so much!
Anyone else just blown away that there was a whole ass crab just... chilling in the rock that was amazing
I love it with most of the rock removed, it reminds you that this was a 3D creature instead of a fossil
I think most people are liking the one with the rock removed!
Amazing, I know the reason why people don't usually prep to this degree, but I always wanted to see someone do this so thank you!
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it!
That was a lot of work. Thanks for sharing this with us.
My pleasure Lisa!
Buddy you share do gotta lot of patience to do what you do. Good job love it.
I've been hoping you would do this. I was hoping for a little bit more removal around the head and between the body and large claws... Tough call! I would enjoy having _bith_ displayed 😊😊
As always.... _GREAT_ work!! 👍👍
I was worried that the entire head would come off as it is so damaged! I might have removed more if it wasn't crushed!
Grey's. Love both , but the one mostly in concretion is really nice.
I like it as well!
wawww....amazing fossil....good luck friend, good finding
Thanks 👍!
Color me impressed!
Much respect!
Thank you! Cheers!
After watching again I was hoping the leg wouldn't break off this time lol. I completely prepped is good to show the crab in full, but can be tempting fate staying in one piece. In the matrix might be better especially with a one off. Thx again and stay safe and rock on. 👍🇦🇺
Thanks Claude! Oh well, at least it glued on easily!
I like it a lot when almost everything of the rock is removed
Great video btw
Thanks mate!!
All your work is great no matter how you prep them! Revealing a specimen to any point or any with their natural flaws are worth displaying to me.
I'll say it to you a million times...I currently can't rockhound or fossil hunt but I have you to keep me interested/informed! Thanks 😊
Hope you can rockhound and fossil hunt soon again!! Thanks for the kind comment!
That's awesome !! . Great find and prep work and preservation :) . I prefer the one that still has the round concretion around it as a lot less likely to damage.. all the best and stay safe x
I just noticed in this video that the segments had titles...and I freakin' loved it! So cool to know which part I'm looking at now. I like both prep styles equally, probably because each lets me appreciate the fossil in a different way. Of course I would love to see more of both. 😁
The titles for the segments is a new feature and really cool! I like both as well 😀
That’s almost scary good. So intact considering the age. It’s beautiful. 💕♥️💕
I like them both. But the story told by the one on the left is more compelling.
Thanks so much mate! It definitely does tell a story!
Both Preps are great. More removal of stone does show the way it possibly became a fossil, like you said victim of under water avalanche causing the damages. The Preps with more stone left may make it a more stable display piece, besides better if you ship it(?). The belly of the crab reminds me of the face hugger in Aliens 😆. Very great work, it is fascinating watching you reveal the fossils something never seen by Human eyes until you remove the overburden!
Hahaha it does look like the facehugger!
Absolutely fascinating, nice crab! 👍✌💖
Thank you! Cheers!
I love the amount of detail preserved- you can actually see how the crab was crushed by the cracks in both the upper and lower sides of the shell
Beautiful work! ♥️
Thanks Margie!
Love ya work…..beautiful and amazing 🤩👏👏👏 they are both beautiful
Thanks Annette!
dude your channel has me looking at rocks in the medians at the McDonald's drive through 😂 love ya buddy keep up the good work!
I'm the same! I have to look at any rock I come across, even tiles in shopping centers!
thats extrem but pretty neat lol!
It is nice to see the whole crab something different thanks for sharing
I bet you could remove even more matrix with an airscribe, awesome work!
I like the one where most of the stone was removed as it gives a more detailed picture of the crab fossil. But for stability the ones left in the rock matrix are probably preferable.
Just found your channel today, absolutely love it. It was oddly satisfying watching that come out of the rock. I do think you need to add something though. With that music playing while you're prepping there needs to be a gratuitous 5 second slow motion shot, maybe when you're brushing away debris or something else with a brush. Seriously though, this was a lot of fun, time to watch about 10 more in a row now.
Great ideas there Ken! I'm really glad you're enjoying the channel! The prep videos are a bit of work but so satisfying to watch 😀
Man you did it! I was wondering if that was possible. So awesome!
Great find and even better prep! As someone who prefers matrix-free fossils over those in matrix, it's great to see one of your crabs prepared like this - though I'm fully aware and appreciate the challenge! It's just that (to me, at least) nothing quite compares to the full immersive experience you get from a fossil that's matrix-free. Besides, I think you did an awesome job at it ;)
Just to nitpick on the terminology, though: ventral derives from the Latin word "venter", meaning "belly", thus the underside; whereas dorsal comes from the Latin "dorsum", or "back", thus referring to the upper side of the specimen. Unless I misread your intention, you seem to have swapped the terms around in your chapter headings :P
Brilliant , I can not get enough !
What a beauty. Respect for your hard work.
Thank you very much!
Awesome prep,both have their own appeal,with or without the matrix surrounding them. I'd like to see a more complete specimen with as much as possible removed,but I don't suppose you know until you uncover it what the condition will be. Just do what you do and keep amazing us. Happy hunting.
Thanks so much! If I find one that is in better condition, I can try and remove ALL the rock one day! I need to prep something different though. Maybe a nice bone cluster!
Yes! Ha... I just left a comment on a video asking about pretty much this exact thing. Just found this one.
I live in Nebraska, if you can find exposed limestone we have tons of marine life as well. Mostly cronoids and coral but ive gotten a few urchin spines and other neat spiral shells.
Nice!! Any bone in those deposits?
To me removing as much rock as possible allows the fossil to be free again and shows all the details which makes each one unique
Thanks Eric! You do get to see more details on this more recent fossil.
Both are awesome!
Thanks Kat!
Both are beautiful preps. I like the crabs in the concretion (on the half-shell? ;) ) but maybe have come to that aesthetic through watching your videos.
Years ago in a shop I really only wanted to buy an item that they were using as a support for displays. It was (I believed at the time) an incredibly realistically carved stone crab. I wonder now if it was a well-prepped fossil with all of the surrounding rock removed. Either way, I understand why they weren't interested in parting with it. Thanks for this video. My hands would ache for days after all of that work.
Amazing fossil, and preparation.
Looks awesome! You are really skilled with the chisel. You should consider investing in an abrasive gun to be able to fine tune the transitions between the fossil and matrix.
Picking one is hard, I say both got its merits.
To appreciate the fully prepared one to the maxI think it is up to the way it is displayed.
Maybe you could make an stand from clear acrylic to show it in a way that both belly and shell would be seen.
Or even cast it into clear resin.
As always these preparation videos are highly appreciated!
I really like seeing so much ventral area exposed but personally my favourite style is where the fossil is prepped to expose as much as possible with a base/pedestal of rock remaining but carved so it looks like it's just sitting on a rock. Those ones make really nice displays but for education the one with the rock surrounding shows both the dorsal and ventral sides and is also strong and stable enough to not be so worried about bits falling off. Really it's down to individual preference but either way it's awesome to see a nearly matrix free example and a good showcase of your prepping skills
Amazing Crab!!! 💚😀
They are both beautiful specimens, it's always lovely to see a whole crab but the one in the rock can be displayed more easier. Another great video 👍💕💕💕💕
Thanks so much Marie!!
Very Nice Work!
Thanks mate!
It came out great
Such a beautiful fossil.
Thanks Tony!
Fully exposed fossils (and aprticularly crabs) are very impressive and nice to display but they are also very fragile. I would say its worth a try because of the spectacular scenery you can have from a full prep like this one. But Don't get me wrong, both are great and maybe keeping full prep for fossiles with good preservation woul be the best from my point of view.
Thanks Matt, I agree that it was worth doing. I'm not sure if I will do more of these if they are not a significant species.
It depends on the crab and the preservation. If I was collecting these and selling some to the fossil collecting community, the less matrix more time prepping would be my high end and the more matrix less time prepping would be less expensive specimens.
That does make sense!
I like the way the crab left inside the rock looks more than the fully freed crab. However, I like being able to see more of the crab too. For instance the apron on the bottom of the crab seems to indicate a female. It is well rounded and takes up a larger amount of space than what is seen on a male crab. I may be wrong as I am basing my opinion on what I see on blue crabs. We always throw the females back so they can lay eggs.
Thanks Timothy! Appreciate the info on the sex of the crab as well!
Nice Prep - and thats a nice easy looking one too. We gotta get some wins right? I prefer the in rock ones myself...
The top was easy but those claws were so sticky!!!
Outstanding male crab prep.
That was very cool 😎👍
My pleasure!!
Hey there, been finding some similar fossils like these and was wondering if you go into any detail on any videos on the type of cutting tools you’re using. Been using silicon carbide wheels of various sizes but they seem to wear really quickly. Thanks for putting these videos out there, super enjoyable to watch
I use air scribes, go have a look at the CP9361 from Chicago Pneumatic or the ones from Paleotools
I like both versions of the crab. If you want to get really artistic, do 1/2 the crab crawling out of the rock-like the half is emerging from it and leave the rest as a crustacean. That would be very cool too!
Hey, thanks for your content. I had no idea, I needed just this. Could you consider making a video about getting into the hobby, looking for small fossils etc?
I think I'm too hungry because even tho you did an awesome job on this all I can think is it looks delicious 🤣 I've been craving some king crab lately
Hahahahah it does look tasty!
"Grab that crab!" - You can add that to your shirts!
Love it!!!
Both are impressive, very nice.
Love these videos. Quick question, is Dorsal and Ventral reversed in the timeline description? I would have thought the dorsal side to be the back of the crab? I am no expert on crab physiology though! Thank you as always for bringing us along on these adventures.
Edit: I think both versions are great. The embedded ones are great display pieces but it's also fascinating to see as much of the crab as possible.
You are correct. Dorsal is the back.
Although with crabs it is kinda tricky because they carry their abdomen (the part of shrimps that we eat) tightly tucked under their bellies - the roughly triangular area with the tip pointing to the front. This means that the ventral side of the abdomen is facing the belly which is also ventral and you actually see the dorsal part of the abdomen.
I was looking for this comment so as not to repeat a, "Well, actually..." :) The video is tagged backwards as you said. Most of the dorsal part of the crab would be what we think of as the top of a right-side-up crab, and the ventral would mostly be the underside.
I really enjoyed watching the process of you carving all of the rock away (well, as much as the fossil could take) and I love being able to see the whole fossil rather than the fossil with a ring of rock around it. Preference aside, my question was during the process is "how far do you actually go and why?"
I removed rock till the fossil started breaking! Also, I had exposed the parts of the crab that I wanted to.
Really cool!
Thanks Moto!