One trip we took with Peggy Williams we came up with both a king and a queen
helmet and no facilities for cleaning them.  If she were not temporarily
signed off while out of town, she could tell you.  But it is an industrial
strength Pine Oil - I don't remember the percentage - 70 - 80% ? - but
definitely not the kind you buy at the grocery store.  Try a janitorial
supply house.
 
It took 6 or 8 months of soaking, but it worked eventually. We covered the
shells with the oil, put them in sealed buckets and left them up on a shelf
in the garage.  We even moved 350 miles away with them still in the bucket.
 
I also met a couple not long after they returned to the US from living a
number of years in the Philippines.  They were self-collectors, who sold
their beautiful collection when they needed money for a new home.  They
routinely put all their shells in pine oil and soaked them for extended
periods.  They said it improved the looks and sheen.  They had some
beauties!
 
Sylvia Edwards
Huntsville AL
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a-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Kanner <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 3:26 PM
Subject: [CONCH-L] Shell Odor
 
 
>Does anyone out there have a good method for getting rid of the residual
>odor from rotting animal matter left in shells from
>incomplete cleaning? Answers will be greatly appreciated by my wife.
>