How to Create a Fossil Collectors Kit

Fossils allow us to step back in time to study the world and its inhabitants. You can start with the basic tools and add to them as your hobby grows.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spray Glues
• Baseball Caps/hats
• Work Gloves
• Work Gloves
• Familiar Fossils Of North America
• Aleene's Tacky Glue
• Paintbrushes (old)
• Plastic Baggies
• Notebooks
• Film
• Point-and-shoot Cameras
• Backpacks
• Water Bottle Insulators
• Water Bottles With Squeeze Caps
• Cold Chisels
• Collapsible Shovel
• Safety Goggles
• Specialty Hammers
• Safety Goggles
• Notebooks

1. Use a strong bag such as one made from burlap or use a sturdy backpack to carry your tools.

2. Begin with the basic tools - rock or masonry hammer, safety glasses, leather gloves, large and small rock chisels (not wood chisels because the metal is too soft), a couple of dental picks for detail work, plastic freezer bags, newspaper or paper towels, masking tape, and felt markers.

3. Add a point-and-shoot camera to record the location of the fossil.

4. Include a notebook to keep records of your fossils.

5. Throw in a good fossil identification book such as the "Familiar Fossils of North American."

6. Choose one or two special items to include in your kit if it is a gift such as an insulated water bottle, sweat band or a cool cap.

Tips & Warnings

• Heavy-duty tools such as a shovel or pick ax can be added as you need them.

on 3/16/2006 1. Screw cap pill bottles for teeth and other small specimens.
2. Super glue, epoxy, white glue (any fast drying kinds), for quick fixes when the hammer slips.
3. Knee pads. Inexpensive and a blessing after being on your hands and knees for an hour or so.
4. Work gloves, safety glasses (goggles are too cumbersome in the heat).
5. Old paint brushes and old toothbrushes.
6. A hard hat if anywhere near potentially falling rock, which is usually unavoidable.
7. Chisels with hand guards. Not much more costly and well worth the safety feature.
8. Old crowbar or lug wrench.
9. Roll of bathroom tissue or sheets of packing foam for wrapping delicate specimens.
10. Homemade first aid kit-appropriately stocked with items most likely needed.
11. Small tool set with nut picks, nails, tweezers.
12. Old garden hand spade.