At 11:19 AM 6/23/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear Tom:
>
>Wish I could write this anonymously, but can't figure how to do that.
>So I am giving all of you an excuse to laugh at me if this is really a
>stupid question. 
>
>I am intrigued with the idea of using silicone to enhance the beauty of  
>my shells.  Was going to have my local hardware store special order some
>LPS heavy-duty silicone lubricant, when the word lubricant suddenly rang 
>a bell.  I have in a kitchen cabinet an aerosol can of WD-40 that I use 
>for lubricating things.  By any chance would this be the same thing, and
>could I use it on my shells.  I have read every single word on the can and
>it doesn't say a thing about silicone, or any incredient for that matter.
>I would appreciate some advice from all of you out there who are so much
>more knowledgeable than I am.  
>
>Betty Jean, The Tall One
>
>At 07:48 PM 6/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>>Phyllis
>>
>>Try your local hardware store.  I believe silicone is silicone and the
>>spray lubricants sold in hardware stores and automotive supply places
>>will work fine.
>>
>>Tom
>> 
>
>Betty Jean Piech    
>Hockessin DE,USA
>~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ 
>_@/-The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.-\@_
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>Betty Jean -
I have been using the silicone based dive shop lubricant spray for over 20
years.  It can be sprayed directly on the shell and rubbed with your bare hands
. As a matter of fact, I have found that you can spray it on your hands and
then rubbed on the shells directly.  This works especially well on smooth
surfaced shells such as cowries and olives.  It lasts a long time and is
neutral to the shells, since it only contains silicone and propellants which
are dissapatedon spraying.  Another product which is excellent is food grade
silicone, available in restaurant supply houses.
I'm not going to be able to make the COA this year soplease give my regards
to all my friends.
Horatio