Everything you need to get started
An affordable start in pneumatic fossil preparation, with the durability and quality to keep up with your demands!
01
Air Scribe
02
Air Compressor
03
PPE
An essential part of the kit, required to keep you safe. Protect your eyes and lungs.
ZPT-MA THE MAIA
The Maia is the most versatile all rounder fossil preparation tool on the market. We include it as part of a starter kit because it can tackle most jobs, from very fine work all the way through to roughing work. It represents the least steep learning curve of all our air scribes, and in that way is perfect for a beginner. This tool will guide you through your first foray into fossil preparation and far beyond.
Weight: 166g (5.85oz)
Dimensions: 100mm length, 25mm max. diameter (4" long, almost 1" ø)
Working Pressure Range: 0.5 - 2.5 Bar (7-36 PSI)
Optimal Working Pressure (for most tasks): 2 Bar (30 PSI)
Maximum Air Consumption: 10lpm (0.35 CFM) at 2 Bar
Noise: 71 dB(A)
Vibration: 4.2m/s2 at 2.5 Bar
BPM: Approx 7000 at 2 Bar (30 PSI)
Connection: Air hose + inline filter assembly + pressure regulator + quick coupler
On/Off Mechanism: Ball Valve
The Maia is a universal all-rounder air scribe. If you can only have one to do it all, then this would be it! We have designed this specifically to be the most versatile fossil preparation air scribe on the market, capable of tackling everything from moderate roughing work to fine detail.
Buttery smooth in use, small and easy to handle, highly customisable, low air pressure and low air consumption. This tool is truly a delight to use.
Excellent all-rounder
ZOIC PalaeoTech PRO Range
A variety of stone-grade tungsten carbide styli to choose from. Starter kits come with a choice of our most popular combinations.
Very frugal air consumption
- Extreme durability in fossil preparation
- Rubber coated for thermal insulation and vibratory dampening
- Air channels engineered to minimise noise output, whilst providing full frontal exhaust
The Maia sets new standards for versatility, ease of use, and customisation in fossil preparation tools.
Unrivaled Versatility: The Maia is your go-to companion for fossil preparation, capable of handling a wide spectrum of tasks. From moderate roughing work to delicate, fine-detail tasks, it excels in all applications, making it the most versatile preparation air scribe on the market.
Silky-Smooth Performance: Prepare to be enchanted by The Maia's buttery-smooth operation, ensuring your work is both efficient and satisfying.
Compact and Manageable: The Maia's ergonomic design ensures it's easy to handle, even during prolonged use. Its compact size allows you to navigate intricate details with ease, reducing fatigue and enhancing your overall productivity.
Highly Customizable: Tailor The Maia to your exact preferences. With a range of customizable styli and heads, you can adjust it to suit your specific needs. Need matrix removal? Use a 3mm chisel to grunt away the top layers of rock. Need precision for fine work? Use the 1.5mm point. Need something inbetween? Try a 2mm or 2.5mm stylus!
Efficient and Eco-Friendly: The Maia boasts low pressure and low air consumption, making it not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. Spend less on your energy bills, and enjoy the sound of silence as your compressor kicks in less often.
The following image shows the wide range of styli that can be used with the Maia. For our starter kits, we offer a choice of the basics, and the most useful combinations. As you advance in your prep and discover more what you specifically need, I'm sure we've got just the right stylus! Please note that the stylus diameter must match the head.
Technical Specifications
The air consumption (amount of air the tool requires to run) is very low at only 10lpm (0.35cfm), providing 13,500 bpm at 6 Bars (90 PSI). The Maia has a nominal operating pressure of 2 Bar (30 PSI) and a maximum operating pressure of 2.5 Bar (36 PSI). It can be used as low as 0.5 Bar (7 PSI) for the finest work. A low air consumption means that your compressor will kick in less often creating less noise and costing you less to run. Low air consumption is also a great indicator of quality in air tools – the engineering in this tool is exceptional.
What’s in the box? The Maia Air Scribe, fitted with 1.5m extra flexible braided premium air hose) and particulate filter. Packaged in a wooden presentation box with a Euro coupler that will plug straight into the compressor, spare o-rings, silicone o-ring grease, 14mm spanner, Air Tool Oil, 1x protective scribe sleeve, User Manual & Declaration of Conformity.
THE ZOIC PALAEOTECH QUALITY THAT YOU KNOW AND TRUST
We manufacture each tool right here in Dorset, and take enormous pride in our workmanship. Each tool is quality controlled before it leaves our workshop. Dependability, reliability, innovation and function are at the heart of what we do. We want for our tools to see you through whatever you may throw at them, and for you to enjoy using them. We want them to be as quiet as they can be, comfortable and a genuine pleasure to use. We design our tools to be low maintenance, requiring very little user input. If you look after your tools, they will look after you!
How does the Maia compare to other tools?
The Maia compares most in our range to the ZOIC Chicago, although is capable of being more powerful and more precise, making it the best all-rounder we've ever produced.
Everything we do in our workshop is optimal for fossil preparation, designed for maximum power output, maximum tool lifespan, low noise, exceptionally low air consumption, frontal exhaust and ergonomic use. Even after many years of rigorous use and changing your stylus often, you will find your tool hardly has any wear.
CE & UKCA Conformable
air compressor
This kit comes with a 24l OL244/24 NuAir TECH Air Compressor - known for its quiet (66dB) operation, a good match for The Maia. The NUAIR Silent TECH OL244/24 24l Direct Drive Air Compressor is a powerful little air compressor for its size.
NuAIR Silent TECH OL244/24 24l Direct Drive Air Compressor
Tank Size: 24l
Motor: 1.1kw (1.5 HP)
Air Capacity: 200L/min (7.1 CFM)
Weight: 21kg
Dimensions: 595 x 260 x 580 mm
Input Current: 13A
Noise: 62 dBa
Max. Pressure: 8bar (116PSI)
Oil Lubricated: No
Running at only 62-66dBa, this compressor is quiet running (note: not silent). Oil-less design means low maintenance and no risk of oil spillage. Features include thermal overload cutout, pressure regulator and dial and Euro female quick-connect.
Personal protective equipment
Although probably the least exciting part of the kit, PPE is essential in fossil preparation.
FFP3 Dust Mask
Safety Glasses
This kit comes with an FFP3 face mask (equivalent to N99), which is recommended as a minimum for fossil preparation. Not all face mask filters are created equal! Lighter duty or surgical face masks won’t prevent you from inhaling rock dust as the particles can be so small. Typically used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, these masks are ideal for keeping you safe.
Please always wear a mask. Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in silica particles (silica is a major component in sand and many rocks), which causes scarring of the lungs. Some fossiliferous limestones set underwater, and if you were to inhale that rock dust, you can imagine where it starts to set!
Our ZOIC PalaeoTech fossil preparation starter kits also come with safety goggles to protect against airborne rock chips and dust, as well as ear defenders to protect from the noise of the compressor.
*Please note that PPE may vary from that pictured, but the grade and level of protection will be exactly the same. Depending on supply, we use different brands, colours and styles, but we always ensure that all PPE is conformable to standard.
- What's in the Box?
- Warranty
- Payment Plans
ZPT-MA The Maia (comes with user manual, air tool oil, 1.5m air hose, Euro connector, silicone o-ring grease, spare o-rings, 14mm spanner, scribe sleeve, and packaged in a wooden presentation box)
24l NuAir Silenced Air Compressor
Quick Start Guide (easy instructions to help you set-up, understand and use your new pneumatic kit)
Safety Glasses
FFP3 Face Mask
Please note that the air compressor may arrive separately. We do not offer gift wrapping on the air compressor, but can gift wrap the rest.