TIPS & TRICKS

I found the limestone on the sand dollars relatively easy to remove, especially after
collaborating with Stephanie Romero.

• Initially at the site, I cleared off excess limestone with my hammer, point chisel, and fingers. But ideally, keeping the sand dollar more vertical as I chipped away at the thickest layers with my point chisel or rock hammer.

Note: the limestone itself can be useful around your house. If you can gather it before you bleach the sand dollar, then limestone can be used for pH balancing in gardening/agriculture and can be used to neutralize acids.

• Once back at my shop, I let them soak in bleach overnight. Then I transferred them to a 6% white vinegar solution to soak for a few hours (until the bubbles stopped).

• One the limestone layers were less than 1”, I used my fingers to pry any bits from around the edges and used a medium-hard bristled toothbrush until they were pretty much clean.

• Lastly, for the denser, tiny residual limestone bits (and to remove a little of the green), I used a Dremel wire brush. While that worked pretty well, it also kind of polished the fossil… i.e., the Dremel brush left a glossy sheen on sections of the sand
dollar, and at times caught and ate away a bit of the fossil as well, especially in the spots where the sand dollar’s surface has broken open… so go slowly and keep it light!