I used to search high and low in the house for something the right size and
heavy enough for weigh down certain things.  It finally occurred to me to
take a container and fill it with water.  Can make small things very heavy,
depending in the vertical capacity.

Sylvia S. Edwards
Huntsville, Alabama
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----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 20, 1999 7:00 PM
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] question


> James,
> Soak the operculum in a cup of water with a spoonful of liquid dish
detergent
> added.  Start with hot water right out of the tap.  You'll have to soak it
> for some time.  Overnight or even 24 hours is not too long.  Once it gets
> "soft" and flexible, dry it off with a paper towel or cloth.  Take two
paper
> towels and fold them up so they are 4 or 8 layers thick.  Sandwich the
operc
> between the two layers.  Lay it on a flat, hard surface like a tabletop,
and
> place a flat, heavy object (like a large book) on top of it to keep it
flat.
> Leave it until thoroughly dried (I'd recommend at least 24 hours), and it
> will remain flat.  You can't rush this.  If you put the book on it before
it
> is completely flexible, it may crack (I have done so occasionally).  And
if
> you take it out before it is completely dry, it may recurl.  But I have
> successfully flattened hundreds of opercs, large and small, using this
> method.  Note - not all opercs are supposed to be flat.  Some, like many
> Murex opercs for example, have a natural "curl".
> Regards,
> Paul M.
>