Paul-
Some albeit long work with a Dremel will remove what the muriatic acid does so quickly but without damage to the shell. Use a very small bit (actually working with a little larger one first then going to a finer one and then still finer for the delicate areas works very well). This is work that is best done outside with the wind blowing the dust away from you, or inside with good ventilation and a dust mask on. Of course, a soak in dilute bleach before the Dremel work will make the calcareous gunk easier to grind away.
Good luck,
Linda Bush - still lamenting our club's demise
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